How did the movement from home-based cottage industries to factory industries with several workers under one roof impact England in the late 1700s?
The transition from cottage industries to factory industries in late 1700s England was a key event in the Industrial Revolution. This transformation saw the shift from handcrafting goods at home to large-scale mechanization in factories, improving productivity and output but also bringing about challenges such as poor working conditions.
The Industrial Revolution in Late 1700s England
Explanation:
The movement from home-based cottage industries to factory industries in England in the late 1700s is known as the Industrial Revolution. This was a time of significant change in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology. It began in the United Kingdom and had a profound impact on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the time.
Before the Industrial Revolution, people used to work in cottage industries where products were hand-made at home. One example would be the production of shoes by a craftsman in his own shop, with people coming to the craftsman to get shoes made. This system of working from home was laborious and did not facilitate the mass production of goods.
However, this drastically changed with the emergence of factories. Factories were established where one could have several workers under one roof, enabling the mass production of goods. These factories made goods faster and cheaper, leading to the mechanization of formerly handcrafted goods, and the transfer of production from the home to the factories.
Note, this shift did bring with it several adverse effects, such as long work hours, poor working conditions, and exploitation of workers. Nonetheless, the Industrial Revolution brought about a shift in economy, and technological innovations greatly increased productivity and output, impacting socio-economic structures significantly.