REACTIONS to the Industrial Revolution [AP World History Review—Unit 5 Topic 8]

Summary

The video explores the societal and political reactions to the Industrial Revolution and capitalism, focusing on the hardships faced by the working class. It highlights various reform movements including political, social, educational, and urban reforms, as well as the rise of labor unions. The script also covers Marxist theory, proposing that capitalism's inherent class struggle would inevitably lead to a revolution. Furthermore, the video examines state-level responses from China and the Ottoman Empire, detailing their attempts at industrialization in response to foreign pressures, and the mixed success of these efforts. A thorough look at how industrialization shaped the modern world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Industrial Revolution sparked widespread calls for reform from the working class, including political, social, educational, and urban reforms.
• 😀 The expansion of voting rights to the working class led to the rise of mass-based political parties, which began advocating for workers' interests.
• 😀 Workers formed social societies for mutual support, offering insurance and social activities to cope with the harsh conditions of factory life.
• 😀 Between 1870 and 1914, European governments introduced compulsory education laws to prepare children for more specialized, technical jobs in the modern economy.
• 😀 Industrial cities became overcrowded and unsanitary, prompting urban reforms and infrastructure projects like sewers to improve living conditions.
• 😀 Labor unions emerged as powerful organizations that allowed workers to collectively bargain for better wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions.
• 😀 By the late 19th century, labor unions in countries like Britain, Germany, and the United States represented millions of workers and became key political players.
• 😀 Marxism, introduced by Karl Marx, criticized capitalism as an inherently unstable system that would eventually lead to a proletariat revolution and a classless society.
• 😀 Marx's *Communist Manifesto* argued that history follows a pattern of class struggle, with the working class eventually overthrowing the capitalist system.
• 😀 State-level responses to industrialization in China and the Ottoman Empire were largely defensive, with each attempting reforms to modernize but facing significant challenges.

Q & A

What were the main reactions to the Industrial Revolution among the working class?

The working class responded to the Industrial Revolution with calls for political, social, educational, and urban reforms. These included demands for better working conditions, social safety nets, education for children, and improvements in sanitation and urban infrastructure.

How did the expansion of suffrage impact political parties during the Industrial Revolution?

As more working-class people gained the right to vote, political parties, including conservatives and liberals in Britain and France, had to adapt by incorporating social reforms into their platforms to appeal to the growing electorate.

What role did labor unions play in improving the lives of industrial workers?

Labor unions allowed workers to collectively bargain for better wages, shorter hours, and improved working conditions. They became powerful tools for change, with millions of workers joining unions to demand reforms.

What is the significance of the German Social Democratic Party in the context of labor unions?

The German Social Democratic Party, formed from the General German Workers Association, advocated for Marxist reforms and sought to transform the capitalist system by promoting social ownership of production. It played a key role in representing working-class interests at the government level.

How did Karl Marx view capitalism, and what was his proposed solution?

Karl Marx viewed capitalism as an unstable system that created sharp class divisions between the bourgeoisie (owners of production) and the proletariat (workers). His solution was a violent revolution by the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie, leading to a classless, socialist society.

What was the self-strengthening movement in China, and why was it ultimately unsuccessful?

The self-strengthening movement in China was a set of reforms aimed at modernizing China and industrializing while preserving traditional Chinese culture. However, it was hindered by resistance from conservatives and failed to fully modernize the country, as evidenced by China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War.

How did Western industrial powers take advantage of China's weaknesses during the 19th century?

Western industrial powers, particularly Britain, exploited China's weaknesses by imposing unequal treaties after defeating China in the Opium Wars. These treaties forced China to open several ports to foreign trade, leading to increased foreign influence and control over Chinese territory.

What were the key features of the Ottoman Empire's Tanzimat reforms?

The Tanzimat reforms in the Ottoman Empire were a series of aggressive reforms aimed at industrialization, such as the establishment of textile factories, implementation of Western-style law codes, and expansion of education. These reforms aimed to modernize the empire in response to pressure from industrialized European powers.

What was the response of the Ottoman Empire to Western pressures in the 19th century?

The Ottoman Empire, facing territorial losses and external pressures from industrialized nations, pursued defensive industrialization through the Tanzimat reforms. However, the reforms were not fully successful in modernizing the empire, and it continued to decline into the early 20th century.

How did the Ottoman sultan's reaction to political reform illustrate the challenges of industrialization?

The Ottoman sultan initially accepted a constitution and a parliamentary system in 1876, but later rejected these reforms when faced with potential war with Russia. This illustrates the tension between modernization efforts and conservative resistance within the Ottoman Empire, hindering the success of industrial reforms.