Industrial Revolution, Britain, Europe & the world
Population growth, urbanization, steam power, coal, iron, railroads
Commercial capitalism
Driven by liberalism, free markets, progress, constitutional reform
Against aristocratic privilege
Aristocracy
Landowning elite: wealthy, lose dominance
Power shifts to businessmen, manufacturers, bankers
Middle Class
Main beneficiaries
Factory owner & banker
Free trade, constitutional government
1832 Reform Bill expands male vote
Women homemakers
Laboring Class
70%+ of population
Overcrowding, pollution, epidemics
Long hours, low wages, child labor
Protest
Skilled workers destroy machines
State repression, death penalty
For fair wages, dignity
50M+ Europeans migrate
Push poverty, pull jobs & land
Consequences
Middle class dominates
Reforms improve conditions
Socialism & nationalism grow