Reactions to the Industrial Economy [AP World History] Unit 5 Topic 8 (5.8)

Summary

In this video, Heimler delves into the resistance against industrialization in the 19th century. He discusses the harsh conditions faced by factory workers, leading to the rise of labor unions that fought for reforms such as a five-day work week, minimum wage laws, and expanded voting rights. The script also touches on criticisms of capitalism from thinkers like John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx, offering alternative systems like utilitarianism and communism. Additionally, it covers how the Ottomans, China, and Japan responded to industrialization, highlighting reforms, resistance, and the balance between tradition and modernization.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Industrial Revolution led to significant economic, social, and political changes, but also sparked resistance from various groups.
• 😀 Factory workers faced dangerous working conditions, poor pay, and overcrowded living spaces in tenements, leading to the formation of labor unions.
• 😀 Labor unions successfully fought for reforms such as a five-day workweek, limits on working hours, and minimum wage laws.
• 😀 Labor unions also pushed for the right to vote, resulting in the expansion of voting rights to all men in Britain by 1918 and to all women by 1928.
• 😀 Child labor was rampant during the Industrial Revolution, but laws such as the 1843 law in the U.S. prohibited children under 10 from working in coal mines.
• 😀 Thinkers like John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx criticized capitalism, with Mill proposing utilitarianism and Marx advocating for a worker-controlled economy through communism.
• 😀 The Ottoman Empire underwent significant reforms, including the abolition of the feudal system and the creation of secular schools, but also faced resistance from groups like the Young Turks.
• 😀 In China, the Qing Dynasty attempted reforms like the Self-Strengthening Movement to modernize while preserving Confucian values, but these efforts largely failed.
• 😀 After China’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, China renewed reform efforts, including the Hundred Days of Reform, which abolished the Civil Service Exam and promoted industrialization.
• 😀 Despite efforts to modernize, China faced resistance from conservatives like Empress Dowager Cixi, and was ultimately forced to accept Western economic domination in exchange for modernization.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of industrial workers to the Industrial Revolution?

The initial reaction of industrial workers to the Industrial Revolution was resistance, as they faced dangerous working conditions, low wages, and squalid living conditions in overcrowded tenements. These poor conditions led them to form labor unions to fight for better wages, working hours, and overall rights.

What reforms did labor unions successfully push for during the Industrial Revolution?

Labor unions were successful in pushing for reforms such as a five-day work week, limits on the number of hours worked, and minimum wage laws. They also fought for the extension of voting rights, advocating for universal male suffrage and eventually for women's suffrage.

How did industrialization affect child labor?

Industrialization led to the exploitation of child labor, especially in factories and coal mines, where children worked long hours under hazardous conditions. Children were often employed because of their small size, which allowed them to perform tasks that adults could not. Over time, labor unions pushed for laws that restricted child labor, such as a law in 1843 that made it illegal for children under 10 to work in coal mines.

What was John Stuart Mill's criticism of capitalism, and what alternative did he propose?

John Stuart Mill criticized capitalism for being a selfish system where individual self-interest led to the exploitation of workers. He proposed utilitarianism as an alternative, which emphasized that actions should be carried out for the greatest happiness of the whole society rather than individual profit.

What was Karl Marx's view on capitalism, and what solution did he propose?

Karl Marx viewed capitalism as a system that benefited the bourgeoisie (factory owners) at the expense of the proletariat (working class). He argued that the working class should own the means of production and share the wealth equally. His ultimate goal was to achieve communism, where all social classes would be eliminated, and everyone would be equal.

What reforms did Sultan Mahmud II and the Tanzimat movement introduce in the Ottoman Empire?

Sultan Mahmud II and the Tanzimat movement introduced significant reforms in the Ottoman Empire, including the abolition of the feudal system, the creation of an extensive road network, the establishment of a postal service, legal reforms ensuring equality before the law, and the establishment of secular schools.

How did Sultan Abdul Hamid's response to reform differ from his predecessors?

Sultan Abdul Hamid initially supported reforms but later reversed course as he grew more fearful of radical reformers like the Young Turks. He exiled them and suppressed calls for constitutional government. He also responded harshly to calls for reform from Armenians, leading to their persecution and massacre.

What was China's Self-Strengthening Movement, and why did it fail?

The Self-Strengthening Movement in China was an effort to modernize China's economy and military by adopting Western technologies while preserving traditional Confucian values. However, the movement largely failed due to internal resistance and a lack of cohesive leadership, leaving China vulnerable to external threats.

How did the outcome of the Sino-Japanese War affect China's reform efforts?

After China was defeated by Japan in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, China's desire for reform was reignited. The government launched the Hundred Days of Reform, which included abolishing the Civil Service Examination and adopting Western-style industrial and commercial systems. However, these reforms faced strong opposition, particularly from conservative forces like Empress Dowager Cixi.

What was the ultimate consequence of China's modernization efforts during the late Qing Dynasty?

The ultimate consequence of China's modernization efforts during the late Qing Dynasty was that China was forced to accept help from Western powers to modernize, which resulted in China's economic domination and servitude under foreign powers in exchange for exclusive trading rights.