Economic Revolution

Sociological Theory Economic Rev.

Sociology 2111

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD
ECONOMIC REVOLUTION

I. TRANSITION FROM FEUDALISM TO CAPITALISM
  1. WHY THE CHANGE

    1. TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES
      • a. 3 FIELD ROTATION SYSTEM
      • b. THE USE OF (1) HORSE RATHER THAN (3) OXEN
      • c. 4 WHEEL WAGON WITH PIVOTAL FRONT

    2. INCREASE IN POPULATION
      a. BLACK DEATH

    3. MOVEMENT TO TOWNS
      • a. PRIMOGENITURE
      • b. ENCLOSURE
      • c. DEATH OF MANORIAL SYSTEM

  2. DIVISION OF LABOR BETWEEN TOWN AND COUNTRY
    1. LONG DISTANCE TRADE
      TRADITIONAL TIES
    2. COMMERCIAL CITIES WITH YEAR ROUND MARKETS
    3. NEW SYSTEM OF LAWS
    4. PUTTING-OUT SYSTEM

  3. CHANGE IN CLASS STRUCTURE,

  4. LAND, LABOR AND CAPITAL

II. MERCANTILISM

ORIGINS IN 13TH CENTURY
III. CAPITALISM

LAST HALF OF 18TH CENTURY
  1. PHYSIOCRATS IN FRANCE 1750;
    NATURAL ORDER IN ECONOMICS; ONLY AGRICULTURE WORTH WHILE

  2. IDEAS OF ADAM SMITH
    ATTACK ON MERCANTILISM
    DIVISION OF LABOR AND EXTENSION OF MARKETS
    BOTH PHYSIOCRATS AND SMITH SAID LIMIT GOVT. HANDS IN ECONOMY

IV. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
  1. 18TH CENTURY
    MECHANICAL POWER; FACTORIES

  2. CREATION OF FREE LABOR;
    DID NOT OWN TOOLS;
    LITTLE PROPERTY;
    EXCHANGE OF LABOR FOR WAGES


  3. STANDARD OF LIVING ROSE, HOWEVER,
    A. ABUSIVE CHILD LABOR
    B. LONG HOURS
    C. UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS

V. THEMES OF INDUSTRIALISM

  1. CONDITION OF LABOR WAS NOT GOOD
    DEGRADATION OF LABOR
    TAKING WORK OUT OF GUILD, VILLAGE, AND FAMILY
    DECLINE IN STATUS

    1807 ROBERT SOUTHEY
    "[A] PEOPLE MAY BE TOO RICH; BECAUSE IT IS THE TENDENCY OF THE COMMERCIAL, AND MORE ESPECIALLY OF THE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, TO COLLECT WEALTH RATHER THAN TO DIFFUSE IT ... GREAT CAPITALISTS DEVOUR THE WEAKER FISH; AND IT IS BUT TOO CERTAIN THAT THE POVERTY OF ONE PART OF THE PEOPLE SEEMS TO INCREASE IN THE SAME RATIO AS THE RICHES OF ANOTHER."
  2. TRANSFORMATION OF PROPERTY
    BASES OF ALL SOCIAL STATUS, FAMILY, CHURCH, AND STATE NEEDED TO BE ELIMINATED

  3. THE GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRIAL CITY
    DESTROYED LIFE, CREATED POVERTY, CRIME, ETC.
    ALLOWED FOR LABOR TO ORGANIZE, ASSOCIATIONS NOT POSSIBLE IN RURAL LIFE

  4. TECHNOLOGY AND THE FACTORY SYSTEM
    FREE HUMANS FROM CONSTRAINT OF OLD SOCIETY
    DESTROYS PEASANT LIFE
    FREES LABOR


In case you are interested in looking at what different aspects of feudalism mean.
Feudal terms




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Last Modified: Sunday, 27-Feb-2008
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