The Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain in the late 1700s and spread to Europe and North America. It changed a lot about technology, the economy, and how society was organized. This time period introduced new ideas, mostly influenced by important people like James Watt and Karl Marx. Their work greatly changed Western civilization.

How Technology Changed Things: James Watt

James Watt made important improvements to steam engines in the 1760s and 1770s. His new steam engine was much more efficient, turning about 50% of its energy into mechanical energy, which was a big improvement over earlier versions. This innovation helped with:

• Industrial Growth: The use of steam engines jumped from around 1,000 in 1780 to nearly 40,000 by 1850. This shows how much industrial power grew.
• Transportation Revolution: With the invention of trains and steamships, transporting goods and people became much faster. For example, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened in 1830. A trip that took days by horse could now be done in just a few hours by train.

Watt’s inventions also changed industries like textiles. Cotton production went from 1.5 million pounds in 1800 to over 1 billion pounds by 1900. This growth led to more people moving to cities for work, changing where people lived and how society was structured.

New Ideas About Society: Karl Marx

The fast changes during the Industrial Revolution led to new ideas about society, especially socialism and communism, which Karl Marx wrote about. In his famous book, "The Communist Manifesto" from 1848, he discussed how capitalism affected people, saying that the rich (bourgeoisie) were taking advantage of the working class (proletariat).

1. Class Struggle: Marx believed that history is shaped by conflicts between different social classes. In the 1800s, about 80% of people in industrial cities were working-class and lived in poor conditions, while the wealthier class thrived.
2. Economic Inequality: The wealth created during the Industrial Revolution was not shared equally. By 1860, the richest 10% of people in Britain owned 70% of the wealth. This caused many people to be unhappy, leading to protests and demands for better rights and working conditions.
3. Labor Movements: By 1900, about one in three workers in big cities were part of labor unions. This showed a growing awareness of workers' rights and the need for better treatment.

New Social Classes

The Industrial Revolution created new social classes and changed society in many ways:

• Growing Middle Class: As industries grew, a new middle class formed, filled with people involved in business and management.
• Labor Classes and Urbanization: Many people moved from farms to cities for jobs. For example, Manchester's population grew from 25,000 in 1801 to over 300,000 by 1851, showing a massive move toward industrial areas.
• Reform Movements: The tough conditions that workers faced led to movements pushing for changes, resulting in laws like the Factory Acts of the 1830s and 1840s, which aimed to improve working conditions.

In summary, the Industrial Revolution changed how things were made and how economies worked. It also introduced new ideas and social structures that continue to affect society today. The technological improvements from people like James Watt and the thoughts on society from Karl Marx still play a role in conversations about fairness and justice in our world.