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Reactions to the Industrial Economy from 1750 to 1900 CE

Driving Question: What caused demands for change in industrial societies from 1750 to 1900 CE, and how did these demands shape society?

As industrialization spread, it transformed societies. Industrial capitalism enriched some, but many others struggled in the face of industrial changes. A new urban working class emerged, paid an hourly wage in exchange for their labor. Living and working conditions were often miserable. As a result, new economic ideologies, like socialism, emerged to challenge capitalism. In many places, the working class united to demand better pay and working conditions.

Learning Objectives

  1. Compare and contrast the economic systems of capitalism and socialism.
  2. Evaluate how different groups responded to increasing industrialization from c. 1750 to 1900 CE.
  3. Explain the causes and effects of calls for changes in industrial societies from 1750 to 1900.

Vocab Terms:

  • bourgeoisie
  • capitalism
  • industrial capitalist
  • proletariat
  • reform
  • social class
  • union
STEP 1

Opener: Reactions to the Industrial Economy

By now, you’ve probably gotten pretty good at using evidence from an image to support your claims. So this time, we’re going to send you to find the images that support your claims.

STEP 2

Responses to Industrialization

Every revolution causes some sort of response. Industrialization did—in fact, it shook up ideas about who gets what, where, when, and how!

STEP 3

Rise of the Proletariat

Workers during the Industrial Revolution had only their labor to give—but they wanted a better wage for that labor.

STEP 4

Sourcing: Reactions to Industrialization

Industrialization and imperialism provoked many different responses. In this exercise, you will examine primary sources to examine two distinct opinions regarding the social and economic conditions of the time. We recommend you use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to complete this exercise.

STEP 5

Closer: Graphic Biography: Ottilie Baader

Who better to learn the perspective of an industrial-era worker from than from an industrial-era worker? You will read the story of Ottilie Baader, who started as a worker and became a labor organizer.