A Beginners Guide to the Industrial Revolution

A Beginner's Guide to the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution refers to a period of massive economic, technological, social, and cultural change which affected humans to such an extent that its often compared to the change from hunter-gathering to farming. At its simplest, a mainly agriculture-based world economy using manual labor was transformed into one of industry and manufacturing by machines. The precise dates are a subject for debate and vary by historian, but the 1760/80s to the 1830/40s are most common, with the developments beginning in Britain and then spreading to the rest of the world, including the United States. The Industrial Revolutions The term industrial revolution was used to describe the period before the 1830s, but modern historians increasingly call this period the first industrial revolution. This period was characterized by developments in textiles, iron, and steam (led by Britain) to differentiate it from a second revolution of the 1850s onwards, characterized by steel, electrics, and automobiles (led by the U.S. and Germany). What Changed Industrially and Economically The invention of steam power, which replaced horses and water, was used to power factories and transportation and allowed for deeper mining.The improvement of iron-making techniques allowing for vastly higher production levels and better material.The textile industry was transformed by new machines (such as the Spinning Jenny) and factories, allowing for much higher production at a lower cost.Better machine tools allowed for more and better machines.Developments in metallurgy and chemical production affected many industries.New and quicker transport networks were created thanks to first canals and then railways, allowing products and materials to be moved cheaper and more efficiently.The banking industry developed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, providing finance opportunities that allowed the industries to expand.  The use of coal (and coal production) soared. Coal eventually replaced wood. As you can see, an awful lot of industries changed dramatically, but historians have to carefully untangle how each affected the other as everything triggered changes in the others, which triggered more changes in return. What Changed Socially and Culturally Rapid urbanization led to dense, cramped housing and living conditions, which spread disease, created vast new city-dwelling populations, and a new sort of social order that helped to establish a new way of life: New city and factory cultures affecting family and peer groups.Debates and laws regarding child labor, public health, and working conditions.Anti-technology groups, such as the Luddites. Causes of the Industrial Revolution The end of feudalism changed economic relationships (with feudalism used as a useful catch-all term and not a claim that there was classic-style feudalism in Europe at this point). More causes of the Industrial Revolution include: A higher population because of less disease and lower infant mortality, which allowed for a larger industrial workforce.The agricultural revolution freed people from the soil, allowing (or driving) them into cities and manufacturing, creating a larger industrial workforce.Proportionally large amounts of spare capital for investment.Inventions and the scientific revolution, allowing for new technology.Colonial trade networks.The presence of all the required resources located close together, which is why Britain was the first country to experience the industrial revolution.A general culture of hard work, taking risks, and developing ideas. Debates Evolution, not revolution? Historians such as J. Clapham and N. Craft have argued that there was a gradual evolution in industrial sectors, rather than a sudden revolution.How the revolution worked. Historians are still trying to pry apart the heavily interwoven developments, with some arguing that there were parallel developments in many industries and others arguing that some industries, usually cotton, surged and stimulated the others.Britain in the 18th century. The debate still rages over both why the industrial revolution began when it did and why it began in Britain.

Social problem facing the contemporary US

Social problem facing the contemporary US Introduction The US is a first world country with visible developments in the communal realms. It is recognizable as a developed country with minimal flaws. Nevertheless, in recent years numerous negative things have been associated with such an entity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social problem facing the contemporary US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They include war, crimes, poverty, racism and discrimination, which affect them socially and economically. Mooney, Knox Schacht (2010) thus define a social problem as any social condition that has a negative impact on the society and the environment. A variety of social problems faces the American citizens in the contemporary society. These include crime, war, inaccessibility to better care, poverty, unemployment, bigotry and inequity, illegal immigrations and inadequate shelter. These are examples of social problems, which affect such a populace thus the need f or the government to address them swiftly lest they exude negative impact on subsequent generations. This paper mainly focuses on the health care issues affecting the contemporary American society with a definite focus on African Americans, elderly and related special groups. Healthcare The sole social problem facing the contemporary United States during this century pertains to healthcare. For example, obesity, cancer, diabetes and sexual abuses are prevalent. Mooney, Knox Schacht (2010) reviewed studies that indicated that in every three women in a relationship at least one has been battered, forced into sexual activity or abused in numerous ways. Unfortunately, persons they know normally initiates such acts. Despite the notion that battering is one of the major causes of hurt, and disability among the African-American women, most healthcare centers are not able to recognize this incident as a healthcare issue. Furthermore, the rate at which the African-American citizens are invo lved in drug abuse especially smoking leads to an increase in the death rate of the population due to heart diseases, strokes and cancer. According to Patel and Rushefsky (2008), federal courts passed a ruling on the medical care civil rights act in 1994, which was to offer health care services to all patients regardless of race, division or the social economic status of an individual. Unfortunately, this problem is yet to be substantially analyzed. Analysis of the problem Although several persons have ignored such a concern, it is evident that for an individual to comprehend the current health care crisis of the African American population, one must understand the legacy of the experience of the slavery. This is together with the role of racism in the provision of diverse facets of care (Patel and Rushefsky, 2008). Former Senator Bradley once said that the slavery experienced by the African American population was and still is the American’s first sin since racism persists a s the unresolved dilemma.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With reference to the most recent research, it is evident that most medical services offered by the American government consciously or subconsciously discriminate the African American. For instance, a report by the â€Å"U.S. Department of human health services† indicates that, the ethnic minorities are treated differently as compared to the whites due to either racial bias or cultural misunderstanding (Patel and Rushefsky, 2008). Another factor that has contributed to the poor medical services to the African American in America incorporates their beliefs and ethics. Such aspects have a great impact on their lifestyle, health care maintenance and education. For instance, the blacks are always regarded lower thus, the services they obtain from the care sector is of lower standard as compared to the service s given to the whites. Such intolerance and bigotry has further lead to the continuous increase of the medical care costs with time. Furthermore, the idea of insuring an employee by an employer has its limitations. This is attributable to the fact that companies with many employees can insure them medically, while those companies with few employees, covering their employees’ medical cover fail to acquire the appropriate resources. By doing the latter, the company is ultimately giving the employees an extra burden of paying their own medical bills including the family members. This often culminates as a costly affair. Apart from the working class, there are the elderly people in the society who require care services. However, the fee of management is often elevated since they require additional services like nursing homes and drug prescriptions, which are costly while the young require hospital services only (Patel and Rushefsky 2008). Sociological theory as a basis for explan ation Sociological theory can be termed as a set of solid ideas and information that allow for the systematization of social world basing on established notions. These theories change with time depending on changes arising in the social world. An example of a sociological theory that explains the health care of the Americans is the rebellion theory, which indicates that the society shuns approved goals and agreements. Dillon (2007) indicates that this notion would question the economy of the health care and the social inequality. Despite having good intentions to the society by trying to provide good health care, the social, political and economic interests always ends up interfering with their goal. This occurs when the stipulated strategies that scrutinize the performance of the health care services is not applied effectively leading to low outcome performance of the hospital services, insurance companies, pharmaceutical drug companies. Furthermore, doctors’ together with n urses’ professional jobs, corporate and small business employers, federal and states government and medical malpractice lawyers are included.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social problem facing the contemporary US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, Marxist’s sociological theory claims that class is a very important factor that determines the access of an African American to health services, privileges and power in America. This situation affects the blacks despite that both the whites and the blacks are subject to similar conditions (Dillon 2010). Conclusion In spite the care problems facing the country, several strategies are employed to improve delivery of care. There is a continuous improvement of the standard of services offered by the medical health care organization and the insurance companies. Electronic system is being set up to examine and assess the medical care services. Additio nally, appropriate policies and guidelines governing the use of health care resources effectively must be set. The government should reduce costs associated with health care to advance accessibility by citizens. By doing this, the health care crisis will have negligible unenthusiastic force on the societal realms. References Dillon, M., (2010). Introduction to sociological theory: theorist, concepts, and their  applicability to the twenty- first century, Malden, MA: Wiley- Blackwell. Mooney, L.A., Knox, D., and Schacht, C., (2010). Understanding social problems, seventh Edition, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Patel, K., Rushefsky, M. E. (2008). Health care in America: separate and unequal,  New York, M.E. Sharpe, Inc.