The Industrial Revolution had many advantages, and not just for one particular class; the time period brought prosperity and opportunity to all classes. First of all, the standard of living was increased dramatically across Europe. This happened primarily due to higher wages and more stable jobs, which allowed people to better support themselves. While some poor living standards cannot be ignored or denied, these conditions existed long before the Industrial Revolution began, and cannot, therefore, be blamed on this particular time period. The higher living standards were largely demonstrated through the increased consumption of “luxury foods”, such as meats, fruits and vegetables. Imported goods, like rice, coffee and tea also became much more widely purchased. The increased food consumption was especially impressive, considering the falling mortality rates, meaning a rapidly increasing population. You would think that a significantly larger population would mean less food per person, but the Industrial Revolution actually saw more food per person.
The Industrial Revolution was a time where there was a vast shift from rural, agricultural life, to urban, factory life. This shift gave enormous amounts of people stable, year-round jobs in factories, as opposed to their previous, seasonal work. This gave rise to a new class, the middle class, which actually shortened the gap between the rich and the poor. The middle class could now count on a stable job and would be able to support themselves and their families. Children working in these factories were an issue, but at the time, children were having to work either way, whether they were on a farm or in a city. It was commonplace for children to have to find work to bring in extra money for the family to survive.
The third most important advantage to the Industrial Revolution is the new machines that were invented. The advancements in technology made during the Revolution were the critical stepping stones for our modern inventions and technologies. Some say that the inventions of new machines took jobs away from the working class, but can the many benefits of the new machines really be outweighed by the loss of jobs from a small percentage of the population? Without the innovative technologies created during the time period, we wouldn’t have the same technologies that we have today. Would it truly have been more beneficial to discourage the innovation that took place during the Industrial Revolution? I believe that it would have been detrimental to future generations if such inventions were not encouraged.
