SOCIAL AND HUMAN COSTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION: A REVIEW OF SOME NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY DURING THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Abstract

The Industrial Revolution, which took place from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, had a profound impact on society. It leads to unprecedented economic and technological progress, as well as significant changes in the social structure. Along with the positives, there are quite a few negative effects. The purpose of this article is to present the basics, such as exploitation of workers, poor working conditions, child labor, poor physical and mental condition of the population, urbanization, environmental pollution, etc. As Great Britain began its industrialization before all other countries, therefore its citizens were exposed to the negative effects for the longest time, the data and sources used are mainly from the United Kingdom. A descriptive method is used, presenting both contemporary sources and those from the time of the industrial revolution itself, specifically Adam Smith and Thomas Malthus. The information collected is interpreted by analyzing the negative social consequences of industrialization. Although usually distinguished, in practice these effects are closely related. For example, poor working conditions and long working hours, combined with environmental pollution, lead to a deterioration in the health of the working class. Due to the intensive burning of fossil fuels, air pollution in industrial cities during the period was many times higher than modern standards. Along with the negative effects of industrialization itself, the uneven distribution of wealth is increasing. All this leads to social unrest, protests and movements for workers' rights, which shows the clear need for social reforms. It was the emergence of the first trade unions and the formation of labor movements that were a response to the exploitation and poor conditions faced by workers during this time. As a positive side, if it can be called so, of the negative effects of industrialization, the political impetus for the development of the first systems of social security, education and health care was formed towards the end of the 19th century. A change in public attitudes brought about by the negative effects of industrialization reflected a growing recognition of the need to move away from the early laissez-faire approach and provide greater social security for wage workers on the part of the state. Therefore, industrialization itself is an important cause of the transformation from a market economy to a mixed economy system.