Unit 5: The Industrial Revolution and Its Global Consequences (c. 1750–1900)

Industrial Revolution

A period of significant industrial growth that began in Great Britain, characterized by the transition from manual labor to mechanized manufacturing.

Coal

A fossil fuel that was crucial to the Industrial Revolution, serving as a primary energy source for steam engines.

Defensive Modernization

Japan's strategy during the Meiji Restoration to adopt Western industrial and military technology while maintaining control.

Transcontinental Railroad

A major railroad completed in 1869 in the United States, linking the eastern and western regions and facilitating the movement of goods and people.

zaibatsu

Large family-controlled vertical monopolies in Japan that played a significant role in Japan's industrialization.

Bessemer Process

An efficient method for mass-producing steel by blowing air through molten iron to remove impurities.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

An economic system where the government minimally intervenes in the economy, allowing the market to regulate itself.

Proletariat

The working class who, according to Marxist theory, would rise up against the bourgeoisie to establish a classless society.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class who own the means of production, as described in Marxist theory.

Marxism

A socio-economic theory by Karl Marx advocating for a classless society through the overthrow of capitalism.

Utilitarianism

A philosophical approach that promotes actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the majority.

Tanzimat Reforms

Reforms undertaken in the Ottoman Empire aimed at modernization and seeking to appease foreign investors.

Self-Strengthening Movement

China's attempt in the 19th century to modernize its military and industry while preserving traditional culture.

Human Capital

The economic value of the skills and knowledge of a workforce, especially derived from immigrants during industrialization.

Steam Engine

A machine that converts steam from heated water into mechanical power, pivotal in the first Industrial Revolution.

Textiles

Fabrics and woven materials that were a major focus in the early stages of industrial production.

Electricity

An energy source that replaced steam in factories during the Second Industrial Revolution, enabling new technologies.

Iron Works

Industries involved in the production of iron; heavily impacted by British colonial policies in India.

Deindustrialization

The process through which a region or economy experiences a decline in industrial activity and traditional manufacturing.

Steamships

Ships powered by steam engines, allowing for improved transportation and trade during the Industrial Revolution.

Agricultural Economy

An economy primarily based on farming and agriculture, often contrasted with industrial economies.

Steel Production

The process of creating steel, essential for construction and manufacturing during the Industrial Revolutions.

Chemicals

Substances created through chemical processes that became important in the manufacturing sector during the Second Industrial Revolution.

Transportation Revolution

A period of rapid growth in the transportation infrastructure, including railroads and steamships, enabling efficient movement of goods.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Global Standard

A practice or benchmark that is widely accepted and implemented internationally, particularly in context to industrial practices.