Urbanization and Industrialization

Summary of the Industrial Revolution:

The second industrial revolution was a period when many things (like sidewalks, skyscrapers, and sewers) were invented and brought into use by the public. This great change in technology and lifestyles came about with a new agricultural revolution. The agricultural revolution involved the use of better farming tools that cut out jobs and a series of enclosure movements that also cut out jobs, but increased food output. This high amount of food production led to a population boom. The boom was also aided by better medicine. this boom had good and bad repercussions. The good was that, hey, you got to live longer and eat better. The bad was that with more people around things got crowded and dirty. In the industrial revolution steel would replace iron as the metal that powered everything from railroads to huge bridges. A whole slew of new fascinations in technologies like the dynamo and the automobile followed and would characterise the time period. The new revolution was led by Britain because Britain had resources, skilled mechanics and engineers, good economic conditions, and stable political/ social conditions. Britain was the first to really use the factory system. Factories are incredibly important in today's industries and the industry in the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was fueled by workers who did not have jobs in the farms anymore due to various circumstances. These workers moved to cities in a move called urbanization. The urbanized city was not a fun place, especially for the common worker who slaved away in factories under terrible conditions. Children too were sent to factories to provide for their families who often lived in tenements, or large apartment buildings with many tiny rooms.

Obviously, people protested this, but were generally forced to submissiveness. Eventually things would improve when cities would be reworked in urban renewal projects and inventions like sidewalks, sewers, and skyscrapers would transform life for the better. Those workers who fought out in anger would form mutual aid societies and labor unions that slowly worked up conditions in factories. The people who benefited from the industrial revolution the most were the entrepreneurs who funded factories and other new technologies in the beginning. These entrepreneurs were the new middle class. This new middle class had unique values and would be classified as the Victorian class. the Victorians would hold a very refined society together with many values placed on having an "ideal home" and dignified social behaviors to show off that they were better than the workers. Public education would soon follow the example of one of the most poor nations in the world, Scotland, and allow more and more students to go to school. Scotland had a policy of educating even the most poor highlander and made sure they could read, write, and do arithmetic. The rest of the urbanized world would gradually follow this tiny, poor country's example. Science would experience breakthroughs in atomic theory and the true date of how old the earth was. On a cultural note, the ideas of romanticism
(which was a cultural movement that involved great emotions, heroes from the most unlikely of places, and the complete breakaway from the strict, logical ideals of the Enlightenment) and realism (which was a artistic movement that focused on depicting things the way they truly are) took place in the industrial revolution. All in all, the industrial revolution changed the face of the world. Technologies gave people jobs, and luxuries; but, these technologies would also mean people would have to go through plenty of toil to have the benefits evenly distributed to all.

Where I Want to Live:

I believe the most interesting city in the world to live in would be London in the United Kingdom. I have believed this for a long time and have always desired to be British. London is a very old city with much international renown. The town has existed since well before Roman times and was determined to be of considerable importance during Roman occupation of Britannia. I have a desire to live somewhere with a great history, not only because of the feeling of importance I would get from knowing that this is truly where many happenings of the world occur, but also I would know there was plenty of excitement and action happening. London has the entire British attitude about things tied to it and is also the gateway to the rest of Europe. I love British literature, humor, music, and yes, even the food (Bangers and Mash is great). I am a teacaholic, eat crumpets like no tomorrow, and sometimes like to believe I am Doctor Who. Yes, I have been bitten with the bug of wanting to be a Brit. All things British appeal to me and what better place in the world to go and live in other than London. Besides my obvious love, there more practical benefits. Many occupations that I am interested in are in need over there and the economic conditions is better. The largest negative impact of living in London would be getting used to the changes. Many things are different in the UK such as stores and lifestyles or money. London is also a long way from family and relatives, but I think all in all I would still LOVE to live there.