Economic Revolution

Sociological Theory Economic Rev.

Sociology 4111

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD

ECONOMIC REVOLUTION

I. TRANSITION FROM FEUDALISM TO CAPITALISM

WHY THE CHANGE

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES

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

INCREASE IN POPULATION
a. BLACK DEATH

MOVEMENT TO TOWNS

a. PRIMOGENITURE
b. ENCLOSURE
c. DEATH OF MANORIAL SYSTEM

DIVISION OF LABOR BETWEEN TOWN AND COUNTRY

LONG DISTANCE TRADE
TRADITIONAL TIES
COMMERCIAL CITIES WITH YEAR ROUND MARKETS
NEW SYSTEM OF LAWS
PUTTING-OUT SYSTEM

CHANGE IN CLASS STRUCTURE,

LAND, LABOR AND CAPITAL

II. MERCANTILISM

ORIGINS IN 13TH CENTURY

EXISTED FROM 15TH TO 18TH CENTURY
BIRTH OF MODERN NATION STATE - 18th or 19th cenury

Centralization of authority - (not independent fiefdoms)
Expansion of role of state from defense to social services
increasing bureaucrate state, civil service (see Weber) formal rationality
growth in democracy - "citizens" participation or compliance in public life

PRIVATE PROPERTY
USE OF MARKETS
PURPOSE; TO MAKE STATE WEALTHY
TRADE; EXPORTS; LOW WAGES

III. CAPITALISM

LAST HALF OF 18TH CENTURY

PHYSIOCRATS IN FRANCE 1750;
NATURAL ORDER IN ECONOMICS; ONLY AGRICULTURE WORTH WHILE

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

18TH CENTURY
MECHANICAL POWER; FACTORIES

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

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

V. THEMES OF INDUSTRIALISM

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."

TRANSFORMATION OF PROPERTY
BASES OF ALL SOCIAL STATUS, FAMILY, CHURCH, AND STATE NEEDED TO BE ELIMINATED

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

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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Copyright: © 2001, John Hamlin
Last Modified: 25-jan-2011
Page Coordinator: John Hamlin