Direct Questions
What was the quality of life like before and after the Industrial Revolution? (Accessibility of goods, literature, work, economy, etc.)
Before the Industrial Revolution, goods were only available to the upper class. This is because quantities of goods were limited due everything was produced by hand labor, so as expected the goods were very expensive and not affordable to most people. For instance, a person would have been considered lucky if he owned 2 t-shirts because people spent their whole lives back then making threads and then weaving them into cloth by hand. The Industrial Revolution was able to make these tasks semi- automated, and in this instance spin up to a dozen threads at once on just one machine that look less labor to operate. Therefore, the costs of these goods came down and the availability went up because of the increase in quantity and the lack of labor it took.
Yet, the Industrial Revolution was seen as a positive change for some people such as the upper and middle class, the lives of the lower and working class became more difficult because jobs became less available due to machines been implemented. Their working and loving conditions were unsanitary and very danger and often worked long hours. However, laws implemented in the 19th century about facotry work was able to gradually improve their quality of life.
Before the Industrial Revolution, goods were only available to the upper class. This is because quantities of goods were limited due everything was produced by hand labor, so as expected the goods were very expensive and not affordable to most people. For instance, a person would have been considered lucky if he owned 2 t-shirts because people spent their whole lives back then making threads and then weaving them into cloth by hand. The Industrial Revolution was able to make these tasks semi- automated, and in this instance spin up to a dozen threads at once on just one machine that look less labor to operate. Therefore, the costs of these goods came down and the availability went up because of the increase in quantity and the lack of labor it took.
Yet, the Industrial Revolution was seen as a positive change for some people such as the upper and middle class, the lives of the lower and working class became more difficult because jobs became less available due to machines been implemented. Their working and loving conditions were unsanitary and very danger and often worked long hours. However, laws implemented in the 19th century about facotry work was able to gradually improve their quality of life.
The Industrial Revolution was about transitioning from hand production to machine production, how does these compare?
Hand production was laborious and produced small quantities. Machine production took the work load off these workers and yielded even greater quantities. Basically, machine production required less work but still produced more quantities than hand production. There is no specific record of the differences in quality of the products before and after the Industrial Revolution. However, we can infer using evidence such as more sanitary working conditions on farms, dangerous and dirty conditions in factories, etc.. The qualities of food produced on farm was most likely improved because of the more sanitary and advanced methods of farming. However, the quality of products like iron was decrease because iron produced using coke was considered impure and brittle at they time. They were deemed unable to be used for making tools.
Hand production was laborious and produced small quantities. Machine production took the work load off these workers and yielded even greater quantities. Basically, machine production required less work but still produced more quantities than hand production. There is no specific record of the differences in quality of the products before and after the Industrial Revolution. However, we can infer using evidence such as more sanitary working conditions on farms, dangerous and dirty conditions in factories, etc.. The qualities of food produced on farm was most likely improved because of the more sanitary and advanced methods of farming. However, the quality of products like iron was decrease because iron produced using coke was considered impure and brittle at they time. They were deemed unable to be used for making tools.
How does the quote "quality over quantity" relate to today's manufacturing compare to the ones of the Industrial Revolution?
Yet mass production was seen as positive during the Industrial Revolution, it might not be today. The desire for quantity has caused a significant decrease in the quality of some products. For instance, the use of hormones and steroids is very commonly used to increase the quantity of meat in beef, pork, and poultry today. The Industrial Revolution was about making production more efficient by using more efficient methods and techniques, but not altering the quality of the product whereas entrepreneurs' desire for quantity today has lead to finding shortcuts and exploitation to produced more goods efficiently and cheaply. This problem is especially severe in the food Industry because it can cause health problems and risk the life of the consumers.
Yet mass production was seen as positive during the Industrial Revolution, it might not be today. The desire for quantity has caused a significant decrease in the quality of some products. For instance, the use of hormones and steroids is very commonly used to increase the quantity of meat in beef, pork, and poultry today. The Industrial Revolution was about making production more efficient by using more efficient methods and techniques, but not altering the quality of the product whereas entrepreneurs' desire for quantity today has lead to finding shortcuts and exploitation to produced more goods efficiently and cheaply. This problem is especially severe in the food Industry because it can cause health problems and risk the life of the consumers.