Industrial Revolution SAQ's (Unit 2 Short Answer Questions)

I: Industrial Revolution

1. How did machines have both a positive and negative impact on the Industrial Revolution?

Machines have a positive impact on the Industrial Revolution by creating more products in less time, which means that the companies earn more money and the products are cheaper. They also have a negative impact on the Industrial Revolution by the fact that the workers get paid less.

3. How did crop rotation help support the growing population?

Crop rotation helps support the growing population by helping farmers grow more food annually, which could mean less starvation and cheaper food prices.


II: Social Ramifications

1. What social developments might be attributed to industrialization?

Better agriculture, better industries and better technology might attribute to industrialization.

3. How did working conditions change after the Factory Acts?

After the Factory Acts, women and children got to work less and working conditions might have been a little better.


III: Inventors and Inventions

1. What effect did the Cotton Gin have on the slave population in the South?

The cotton gin helped seperate cotton fibers from the seeds, so it was designed to help slaves with their jobs on the plantations. However, the owners wanted more slaves to pick cotton for the cotton gin, so it did not really help reduce the slave population.

6. How is the Alternating Current an advancement over Direct Current?

The Direct Current is just one wave going in one direction. For example, with the Direct Current, one can have a room either always lighted up or always dark. The Alternating Current is like a light switch. One can light up a room or darken it, which could save electricity bills.


IV: Second Industrial Revolution and Mass Society

4. How did the transportation industry change family structure and life?

The transportation industry created new ways of transportations for a cheap price, so many families can visit their relatives that live far away. Maybe the transportation industry also helped make larger families (moving).

6. Why did living conditions in the cities improve during the Era of Mass Society?

Living conditions improved during the Era of Mass Society probably because people wanted to prevent cholera and other diseases from spreading, so the sanitation and healthcare improved.


V: Labor Unions

2. What was the goal of the British Labor Party?

The goal of the British Labor Party probably had something to do with socialism and social democracy, because they supported these ideas. Maybe their main goal was to spread these ideas around the world.

6. How did Laissez-Faire economics spur the growth of Labor Unions?

Laissez-Faire, to the British, means "hands off", so that the government would not interfere with the operation of the economy. It helped the Labor Unions grow by not having any limits created by the government (Parliament).


VI: Japanese and Russian Industrialization

5. How was the Japanese society able to industrialize so rapidly?

Japan industrialized very rapidly by examining how other countries had their Industrial Revolutions and trying to copy them as bast as possible. Japan tried to achieve their pros with very few cons. Since the Japanese people work a lot, their Industrial Revolution was quick.

9. How did Stalin's Five-Year Plans both helped and hurt the industrialization of Russia?

Stalin's 5-Year Plans helped Russia's industrialization by building more technological stuff, such as advancements in transportation, agriculture and others. The plans also hurt Russia's industrialization because the people who could not meet Stalin's goals were sent to gulags, and received horrible treatment, such as death.

Another Day in the Coal Mines

September 7, 1783
My 11th Birthday

Dear Journal,
Today is my eleventh birthday. I hope my Mom and Dad get me something. As I went down to eat my breakfast, I noticed something on the table:

To: Drake Smith

From: Bryce and Casey Smith

I wonder if it is good. Anyways, Mom and Dad drove me to the coal factory. I hate that place. It's like experiencing hell. And no one wants to go there. The CEO, Mr. Dave Lemons, assigned me with some familiar kids today. At least I got to talk with Jack and Dane and Bob. We had to bring in lots of coals to the oven, where it could be used to power up stuff. I didn't see Sarah, Jenny or Dani. Maybe they're sick or something like that, I don't know. I noticed George and Bushar constantly reaching in their pockets for a hankerchief and wiping their faces. I gotta admit, the work here is like lifting 50 pounds in an oven that is preheated to 300 degrees. That place was not cool. I only get one pound per 100 pounds of coal, which was not awesome. I tried to help Jared with his batch of coal, but some big guy beated me, especially on the part where I got burned a week ago. It felt painful. I thought I was about to die, to see God with my own two eyes. At last, it was done. The other kids felt sorry for me, I think. Finally, it was time to go. I got half a pound, even though I put 500 pounds of coal. These guys are cheaters. After my usual dinner of vegetable soup and bread, I went to my bread and fell asleep. I hope I don't get cholera. Please, God, please don't give me cholera!