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Industrial VS French
Revolution
Bianca Spiegelberg
Industrial VS French
Revolution
Bianca Spiegelberg
Industrial VS French
Revolution
During both revolutions, space was a big issue. People had to share small areas with
large groups of people and this was the cause of many diseases as the bacteria could
spread more quickly. In Britain this was a much larger problem than in France. While
during the Industrial Revolution the people mainly lived in the cities, the people of
France remained in the countryside with more space, and therefore had slightly better
living conditions.
The Economy was a very important aspect of both Revolutions.
During the Industrial Revolution, economic activities were focused on manufacturing. It
became easier and cheaper to produce goods. Traders began selling large amounts of
goods at cheaper prices and earned more money. This way, the economy of Britain
stabilized. There were low, stable prices and people didnt have to worry about their
wages. Even though the lower class didnt earn as much money and couldnt buy as
much, they could still afford a decent living for themselves and their families.
During the French Revolution the economy was very unstable. There was a wage
uncertainty for French workers, meaning they were never sure if, and how much pay
they would receive. People needed to pay higher taxes to the king, nobility and the
clergy. A lot of this money went towards funding wars. Furthermore, the prices of
everyday items, such as bread and milk increased.
In conclusion, the economic stability of both Britain and France was greatly affected by
the revolutions. During both revolutions the lower class members and peasants
sometimes had to cut consumption and work very hard, as their wages were either low
or non-existent. Despite this point, economy during the Industrial Revolution was a lot
better and more stable and impacted the people more positively than during the French,
where many people could hardly afford a living.
Both the Industrial and the French Revolution saw great developments and
achievements which helped mankind.
The main outcome of the Industrial Revolution was the industrialization of the world and
the development of new machinery and techniques. Furthermore, there were great
advances in agriculture and industry. All of these helped enable easier and faster
production of goods, as well as an easier lifestyle.
During the French Revolution, there were many important inventions and developments
that mainly contributed to warfare and knowledge. These included the metric system
and the encyclopedia, as well as the invention of the guillotine, a process where people
are decapitated. Potatoes were also discovered during the French Revolution. Before
this period of time, people had known of the potato, during the revolution however, a
new purpose was discovered; when soldiers left for war, they took potatoes with them,
as these are root-vegetables which are still edible for many months and provide the
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Bianca Spiegelberg
Industrial VS French
Revolution
body with a lot of vital nutrients. This meant, that war could last longer than just one or
two seasons. Other inventions and discoveries included effective artillery, cheap
printing, and ironworks.
The inventions and developments of the Industrial and French Revolution have greatly
changed the world for the better, by helping us make many tasks a lot easier to
accomplish. Both revolutions affected completely different areas though: The Industrial
Revolution impacted industry and machinery, while the French Revolution mainly
experienced discoveries of techniques and objects that help us with knowledge and in
war.
All in all, this essay has helped me understand that revolutions often do improve the
quality of life. It may not be as apparent when we look at what happened during the
time-periods themselves, but in the long-run, the revolutions have brought about a lot of
changes which have helped make the world a better place. When we look at some of
the short term changes during the Industrial Revolution, we can see that the living and
working conditions of many people, mostly the lower class, were appalling, but the
economics stabilized and social mobility became a lot fairer. During the French
Revolution, the unstable economy and the poor living conditions were countered by a
fairer social system and many new inventions. These side-effects were all part of the
process of reaching the bigger goal: In the Industrial Revolution, there was the
development of industry, which, in the long run, led to an easier production of goods, as
well as an easier lifestyle. The abolishment of the monarchy and strict social order
during the French Revolution, ultimately led to a new and fairer government and ruling
system. In conclusion, I think revolutions help improve our lifestyle.