Impact of industrial revolution
The industrial revolution started in the 18th century and this period was characterized by traditional agricultural societies transforming into more industrialized and urban societies. This transformation impacted the urban environment socially, technologically, economically, and environmentally. Against this background, this essay will discuss the most significant ways the industrial revolution impacted the urban environment, and discuss if people were aware of the environmental impact of the industrial revolution.
Most significant ways the industrial revolution impacted the urban environment
The industrial revolution had social, technological, economic and environmental impact on the urban environment.
Social impact
The industrial revolution led to increased rural to urban migration as people came from the county side to the towns for the promise of work in the factories (“Timelines TV,” 1:30–1:39). This led to growth of population in towns. For instance, in the video Urban Slums, we are informed that the population of Manchester before the industrial revolution was a mere 17,000 but had grown to a third of a million in 1850 (“Timelines TV,” 0:32–0:48). This growth in population and wealth from industrialization led to growth of cities there by changing the urban environment (“Timelines TV,” 0:10–0:27).
However, some negative social impact included overcrowding and poor living conditions. For instance, in the video, we are notified that people in Manchester were desperately overcrowded where 10 to 12 people lived in one room and would share beds sleeping in shifts (“Timelines TV,” 3:50–3:59). Engels also postulate that rural to urban migration caused overcrowding in urban areas which led to poor living and working conditions (Engels, 107). Additionally, Engels point out that the industrial revolution was solely the cause of cramming swarms of workers in Manchester from the agricultural districts and from Ireland (107). Moreover, Engels posits that for anyone who wished to have firsthand experience as to how little space a person can move, and how little air a person can breathe, it would be best to visit Manchester (107). Relatedly, from London’s illustration by Gustave Dore, image 7, 18, 16, & 18, we can observe people living in overcrowded neighborhoods (Jerrold & Gustave). Similarly, the photos of Glasgow taken by Annan shows how people lived in poor conditions in congested houses with polluted streets (Annan). Additionally, in the video, we are informed that people lived in poor living conditions as cellars never intended for human habitation were rented out by unscrupulous landlords to whole families and sometimes two (“Timelines TV,” 4:00–4:07).
Technological impact
The industrial revolution also impacted the urban environment technologically. For example, it led to use of new energy sources. In the video, we are informed that early factories were built in remote river valleys where there was water to power the machines. However, all that changed with the invention of use of steam from coal (“Timelines TV,” 1:40–1:59).
Economic impact
The urban environment was also impacted economically since the revolution led to decline of land as the major source of wealth. This is because the rising industrial production replaced land as the major source of wealth as majority of urban dwellers earned their living from industries (“Timelines TV,” 2:04–2:18).
Environmental impact
Further, the industrial revolution impacted the urban environment as it led to air and water pollution. In this regard, the video explains of how a district in Manchester had skyline full of chimneys from factories which emitted dense poisonous smoke from burning coal which endangered the health of workers and their families who lived in the area (“Timelines TV,” 2:50–3:20). This view is shared by Dickens who explains that in a certain town, smoke lowered down from chimney-pots that made day look like night (Dickens, Bleak House, 11). Similarly, from image 9 of Gustave Dore illustration of London some chimneys can be seen emitting smoke denoting that the air was polluted (Jerrold & Gustave). The environment was also impacted as industries caused water pollution. For instance, the video tells of a river that was one of the main arteries of industrial Manchester which was polluted as chemicals and dyes form factories were discharged into the river. (“Timelines TV,”4:43&nda
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