The Industrial Revolution

In 19th century Europe and the United States, changes continued to occur in technology and the social order. This period is referred to as the Industrial Revolution. Factories were built in the larger cities, with mechanized assembly lines for mass production of goods, For the first time, a new working class was earning wages in factory jobs.As the people in the United States and throughout most of Europe had achieved independence from foreign rulers, each nation now had to face its own economic problems and deal with the changes caused by the Industrial Revolution. Populations moved from a mostly rural existance to crowded cities where workers formed a large part of the community. The telegraph and telephone provided means of long distance communication, which brought people and communities closer together.While the business leaders gained great wealth, they often did so at the expense of poorly paid factory workers. German author Karl Marx wrote about the terrible working conditions of the period and the flaws he saw in the capitalist system that created them. He believed that capitalism would drag more workers into poverty.Marx explained his ideas in a book called The Communist Manifesto, which influenced Vladimir Lenin and helped bring about the overthow of the Russian czar.Label the following statements as true or false.

Everyone got rich during the Industrial Revolution.

The telegraph and the telephone were not important inventions.

Many people moved to the cities to get jobs in factories.

The middle class had always worked for wages in factories.

Marx thought that the factories were a good idea.

The Industrial Revolution was the change in the economy's character from a manual means of production to a mechanical one. Goods were mass-produced by machinery rather than crafted by hand. Because of this change in production methods, more goods could be produced at lower costs.Great Britain is generally credited as the place of origin of the Industrial Revolution. By the late 19th century, the United States, with its abundant natural resources and growing population, had become the world's industrial leader, further cementing its position as a world power.The number of factories in the United States grew, attracting people from rural ares who could earn more money working in urban factories that on farms. As a result, the population of the cities grew. With increased earnings, people could buy more goods and improve the quality of their lives. This consumer demand encouraged existing businesses to expand, new products to be created, and new industries to be developed.

Industry attracted people from rural areas to the cities.

Consumer demand encouraged business growth.

Increased earnings did nothing to improve the quality of life.

The Industrial Revolution began in the United States.

The Industrial Revolution increased the population in rural areas.