Industrial Revolution

[queenansarel]

Were the gains of the Industrial Revolution in England frm 1780-1850 worth the pain(particularly to the working people) that we caused

[fairkatrina]

Undoubtedly. The Industrial Revolution, while harsh on the workers, was often no more difficult than the work they did prior to it. Often they had better hours, pay, homes etc than they ever did before. People in their hundreds of thousands flocked to the factories to find jobs, and many factory owners built whole towns in which to house them, (read Bill Bryson's 'Notes from a Small Island' for a description of two of these places), providing them with more room, running water and leisure facilities. It is also important to remember that we owe literally everything to the Revolution, from computers and the internet, to the strength of the economy, to supermarkets and air travel. Without the techniques developed in the Revolution, we would have none of the things we today take for granted.

[Scylax]

Bravo Fairkatrina (above) - a lovely response. The logic is impeccable.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution life for most people was nasty, short and brutal. Then along came Matthew Boulton et al, and created hope, and the prospect of gargantuan progress; unlimited progress, since it it still unfolding.
The era of dark satanic mills was traversed in a twinkling, and our present Western style of living is the envy of most 2nd. and 3rd. world countries.
Sure, the birth-pangs of the IR were unpleasant, but just look at the magnificent offspring our ingenious forefathers
have created.

[fairkatrina]

Bless you. I do my best...