Industrial society and the American War of Independence

​​In a nutshell

In the last decades of the 18th century, Britain experienced a series of changes in transport and agriculture due to the Industrial and Agrarian Revolution. On the other hand, on July 4th America became independent from Britain after the conflicts occasioned by an increase in taxes.

Revolutions

At the end of the 18th century, the Industrial and Agrarian Revolution transformed the social and political background of Britain. The British colonies on the other side of the Atlantic joined to become an independent free nation, and the French Revolution, followed by the Napoleonic Conquests, spread ideas of equality and liberty all over Europe. These events would affect the cultural and daily aspects of life in Britain.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Approximately in 1750, there was a significant increase in population, and items such as clothes, beer, pots, and others, were highly demanded. As a result, Britain changed from being a farming country to an industrial one.

The Industrial Revolution was a period of several inventions and new technologies such as the development of a factory system, transport, and new sources of power. The principal inventions were machinery for cloth-making, for example, 'spinning jenny' by James Hargreaves and 'water frame' by Richard Arkwright. These machines let one man or woman produce what once required many workers.

Originally, most machines were fueled with water, however, the need for more potency led to the development of a steam power source. In 1775, James Watt (1736-1819) patented an engine that wasted less fuel and was more powerful. New factories were built in Yorkshire, Lancashire, central Scotland, and South Wales. These factories allowed cheaper manufacture of cloth, but, many people lost their jobs. 

Another accomplishment of the Industrial Revolution was the creation of new waterways. Transport became cheaper and more efficient since the conditions of roads were improved. These elements allowed the Industrial Revolution to develop in a successful way. 

THE AGRARIAN REVOLUTION

The changes in the Agrarian sector were also related to technological inventions. Principally, the widespread of open fields and common lands to make more efficient farms. Secondly, improvements in the selection of breeding of cattle to produce more meat, and in farming techniques such as mechanization and crop rotation.

THE REVOLUTIONS AND SOCIETY

During the 18th century, people had to embrace and adapt to the new changes made by the Industrial Revolution. New factories were built near the coal fields which provided them with fuel, and small towns were created nearby to house the workers. 

The industrial city environment was awful due to terrible living conditions and long work journeys. Children and women were highly demanded in factories since they were cheaper to maintain and easy to control. Industrial cities did not have basic public services, water and air were polluted by smoke and filth and houses were completely crowded.

The life expectancy for most inhabitants of industrial cities was twenty or even below twenty years, as a consequence of diseases occasioned by the terrible living conditions. At the beginning of the 19th century, the unemployment rates increased due to the new technologies and the Napoleonic wars, so this period was full of political repression and stagnation.

The American War of Independence

In 1760, George III started his reign, during this period Britain was in control of the seas and had a great economic status. The British government wanted American colonies' support to pay for their defence. So, they established new taxes, including taxation on the importation of tea, sugar, stamps, and molasse, among others.

Taxes were the incentive for the rebellion of American Colonies, many political protests took place during the years. For example, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where the rebels affirmed the taxes were unfair since the colonies had no political power, they said 'No taxation without representation'.

Note: the Boston Tea Party was a protest in which the rebels dressed as Native Americans and threw the tea imported from Britain into the Boston Harbor. 

When the War of Independence began in 1775, Americans were divided into 'Patriots' and 'Loyalists'. The Patriots did not have an army, but they knew the land very well. On the other hand, the British Loyalists had an army but it was too small and the access to supplies was limited. The French fleet was an important support for the Patriots since the prevented the British navy from helping the Loyalists.

On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826) and signed by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It established that the colonies were a new nation and that all men had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Additionally, it stated that governments can only rule if they have the approval of the ones they govern. 

In 1783, Britain recognized the independence of the American colonies with the Treaty of Versailles. Therefore, the new republic of the United States of America took on a federal constitution in 1787 and George Washington became the first president in 1789.