Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Introduction There began in the late 18th and early 19th century, three economic revolutions.
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Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Introduction There began in the late 18th and early 19th century, three economic revolutions whose long-term consequences arguably would affect ordinary people worldwide far more than the political revolutions occurring around the same time Market Revolution: the transition of people from self-sufficiency and local exchange networks to producing articles for cash sale in regional, national, and international exchange networks Industrial Revolution: change in methods of production aimed at rationalizing production—making it more efficient Transportation Revolution: the rapid expansion in the network of wagon roads, canals, railroads, and steamboats, which made transportation faster and cheaper The railroad was by far the most revolutionary transportation improvement— the first truly cheap means of overland transportation Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Basic Concepts Division of Labor Specialization Most uniquely American contribution Pioneered in firearms assembly at the Springfield and Harper’s Ferry national armories Corporations Replaced “Putting Out” Mechanization Standardized Parts Having particular workers do only part of a productive process Centralization of Production Production process broken down into simpler individualized tasks Helped raise capital and spread risk “limited liability” Insurance companies By assuming risk, further allowed businesses to limit risk Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Why Was Great Britain First? One of the classic debates among historians of the economic revolution is why was Britain first? What occurred there starting in the late 1700s was unprecedented Studying Britain not only unlocks what factors were responsible, but also helps in understanding why the similar processes repeatedly occurred elsewhere So why was Britain first? High agricultural productivity Access to raw materials and markets A byproduct of Britain’s naval supremacy Britain’s status as an island nation The fact that Britain was in many ways the home of the transportation revolution Highly advanced credit and banking institutions Crystal Palace Exhibition Launched in 1851 to celebrate Britain’s industrial accomplishments Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Human Impact of the Economic Revolution The economic revolution had a tremendous impact on the societies where it occurred Effects Urbanization Spurred the growth of the middle class and an urban working class Transformed the way people worked and the physical environments in which they lived No longer did people live in small, isolated villages working in the fields, but instead worked in factories in large, crowded cities Certain facts suggest the difficulty of this transition Poor conditions Dickens, Hard Times (1854) Higher rates of suicide, insanity, crime, divorce, and illegitimate birth Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Impact on Work Patterns Just as fundamentally, the economic revolution changed not only how people lived, but also how they worked The biggest change was that ordinary workers lost much of their power to influence the circumstances of their work Pre-industrial Work “St. Monday” Problems with industrial work Tended to be more boring Employers decided when work started and ended, and machines set the pace of work “Speed Up” Unskilled workers easily replaced No social safety net Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Nation Building: Introduction Nation building refers to a long process of building nations out of areas colonized by Europeans once those areas were able to assert their independence This process began in North America in what would become the United States, before moving further south in the Americas Independence in the vast American domains of Spain was encouraged by the invasion and occupation of the country by France during the Napoleonic Wars Spanish subjects in America could not agree whether to obey the Junta Central (directing resistance to the French) or use the opportunity to assert their independence Independence Leaders: (clockwise) George Washington, Padre Hidalgo, Pedro I, and Simon Bolivar Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Independence in South America The independence movement in South America began in the north, in the Viceroyalty of New Granada The wars of independence, which would last fourteen years, pitted Creoles eager for independence against Spanish authorities and their Creole allies who still believed in Spanish rule Reasons for ultimate victory of independence forces: Military leadership of Simon Bolivar The decision to enlist English veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, who helped to improve the quality of Bolivar’s army 1820 revolt in Spain against the restored Spanish king, Ferdinand VII Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Independence in Mexico Mexico’s war for independence against Spain began in 1810, as much a revolt of the poor against the wealthy as a war for independence Father Hidalgo famously spurred a revolt that spread through Mexico, but was put down as wealthy Mexicans, who while often sympathetic to independence, backed Spanish authorities against Hidalgo’s army of the poor The struggle continued under Jose Maria Morales, but he too was captured in 1815 (a guerilla war continued thereafter) Conservative Mexicans favoring independence rose up sin 1821 Spanish troops withdrew in 1823 Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Independence in Brazil Portugal too was invaded by France during the Napoleonic Wars The Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil After John VI returned to Portugal in 1821, he left his son, Pedro I, in Brazil as regent By this time, independence sentiment was growing in Brazil Pedro sympathized with and wished to lead this sentiment forward to advance progressive policies Declared Brazil independent in 1822 Pedro I forced to abdicate in favor of his son in 1831 after a failed war to gain control of Uruguay. Pedro II reigned until his overthrow in 1889, making Brazil a republic Pedro I leads Brazilians in celebrating independence Sept. 7, 1822 Economic Revolutions and Nation Building Independence in Canada In contrast to the United States and Spanish America, Canada like Brazil achieved its independence relatively peacefully in 1867 While Anglo-Canadians wished to assert greater control of their own affairs by the 1830s, desire for independence tempered by U.S. expansionism and Quebec separatist sentiments Rebellions of 1837 Lord Durham’s Report (1838) Act of Union (1840) Confederation (1867) Canadian leaders negotiate terms of the new nation in 1864 British North American Act (1867) “Fathers of Confederation” Looks familiar?