The Industrial Revolution was a time when the manufacturing of goods moved from small shops and homes to large factories. This shift brought about changes in culture as people moved from rural areas to big cities in order to work. It also introduced new technologies, new types of transportation, and a different way of life for many. The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the late 1700s. Many of the first innovations that enabled the Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry. Making cloth moved from homes to large factories. Britain also had plenty of coal and iron which was important to power and make machines for the factories. The Industrial Revolution lasted for over 100 years. After beginning in Britain in the late 1700s it spread to Europe and the United States. The Industrial Revolution can be divided into two phases: First Industrial Revolution - The first wave of the Industrial Revolution lasted from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. It industrialized the manufacture of textiles and began the move of production from homes to factories. Steam power and the cotton gin played an important role in this period. Second Industrial Revolution - The next wave took place from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. During this phase large factories and companies began to use more technologies to mass produce goods. Important innovations during this period include the use of electricity, the production line, and the Bessemer steel process. (https://www.ducksters.com/history/us_1800s/industrial_revolution.php)
The Scramble for Africa was the period between the 1880s and the start of World War I, when colonial empires in Africa proliferated more rapidly than anywhere else on the globe. It is the canonical example of the New Imperialism. The latter half of 19th century saw the transition from an "informal" empire of control through military and economic dominance to direct control, marked from the 1870s on by the scramble for territory in areas previously regarded as merely under Western influence. The Berlin Conference mediated the imperial competition among Britain, France and Germany, defining "effective occupation" as the criterion for international recognition of colonial claims and codifying the imposition of direct rule, accomplished usually through armed force. (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Scramble_for_Africa)
Nationalism is a strong attachment to a particular country, or nation. It is also called patriotism. In the modern world, many citizens are very loyal to their country or to their ethnic group. Many historians consider nationalism to be one of the most important forces in shaping modern history. Nationalism can have a positive influence by giving people a sense of belonging to a national community. Sometimes, however, nationalist feelings can make people ignore problems in their country or group. It also can make people think that their country or group is better than any other. Nationalism is a fairly modern development. It spread throughout Europe in the 1800s. People began to feel strongly about belonging to a group with a shared culture. These feelings led to the creation of nation-states, or countries populated mostly by a single ethnic group. During this time, the modern countries of Germany and Italy took shape. Nationalist feelings also led to successful revolts against the Ottoman and Hapsburg empires, which ruled over many different peoples. Nationalism continued to be a strong force in the late 1900s and early 2000s. Nationalist feelings led to the breakup of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. They also fueled troubles in the area of the Middle East long known as Palestine. The Palestinian people are considered a “stateless nation.” They are an ethnic group that wants a country of its own. Other examples of stateless nations include the Basque people of France and Spain and the Kurds of southwestern Asia. (https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/nationalism/602879#intro)
What would you do if someone came into your bedroom and told you that all your stuff now belonged to them? Most people would be really upset. Now imagine a whole country being taken over by another. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of cases throughout history where land or possessions have been unfairly taken from nations. The idea of taking over another nation and claiming it as your own is referred to as imperialism. Imperialism is something that has happened all throughout history. Stronger countries take over smaller or weaker countries for several reasons. Imperialism is something that has happened all throughout history. In ancient times, it was common for leaders to conquer the surrounding areas to improve trade. Over 2,000 years ago, around 300 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered surrounding areas to expand his territory of Macedonia all the way from Greece to Asia, close to modern day India. Some 400 years later, by 117 CE, the Romans would expand their empire all the way to Asia as well. Another example of widespread imperialism was the empire of Genghis Khan. In the early 1200s, Genghis Khan united the Mongols, who would go on to conquer many parts of Asia. Moving into the later years of history, though, the idea of imperialism would cause a very large problem. By the late 1800s, many powerful European nations like Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy were taking over several weaker or smaller countries in Africa and Asia. During this time, which historians call the Age of Imperialism, many alliances were made between the powerful European countries as they continued to take over parts of the world. These alliances would inevitably contribute to the large scale of WWI. (https://study.com/academy/lesson/imperialism-lesson-for-kids-definition-explanation.html) A hundred years might seem like a very long time ago, but it isn’t really. Your great-great grandparents were around then, and they would have lived through, and maybe even taken part in, this terrible conflict. Lots of history books have been written on World War 1 facts and why it started. But it all boils down to the fact that Europe had split into two large families of countries. The Allies — the British Empire, France, Belgium, Russia and later, the USA — were in one family. And the Central Powers of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey were in the other. On 4 August 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by its promise to stick up for Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. The world was at war… When the First World War began that summer, most people thought it would be over by Christmas. Many believed that Britain was so powerful it could win very quickly. In fact, the First World War lasted four terrible years, not four months. This war was very different from conflicts of the past. For the first time, powerful new weapons and vehicles were used – at sea, on land and in the air – resulting in many people being killed or wounded. In Britain, you could sometimes hear what sounded like thunder coming across the English Channel from Europe. In fact, it was the huge boom of big guns, called artillery, being fired on the Western Front. 75% of all men who died in World War 1 were killed by artillery. (https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/first-world-war/)
State Standards:
WH.H.6 - Understand the Age of Revolutions and Rebellions. 6.4: Analyze the effects of industrialism and urbanization on social and economic reform (e.g., Industrial Revolution, urbanization, growth of middle class, increase in productivity and wealth, changes in economic status, new types of labor organizations, etc.). WH.H.7 - Understand how national, regional, and ethnic interests have contributed to conflict among groups and nations in the modern era. 7.1: Evaluate key turning points of the modern era in terms of their lasting impact (e.g., conflicts, documents, policies, movements). 7.2: Analyze the increase in economic and military competition among nations in terms of the influences of nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and industrialization (e.g., Ottoman Empire, Japanese Empire, Prussian Empire, the German Empire, “Have and Have Nots” of Europe, industrial America, etc.). 7.3: Analyze economic and political rivalries, ethnic and regional conflicts, and nationalism and imperialism as underlying causes of war (e.g., WWI, Russian Revolution, WWII). 7.4: Explain how social and economic conditions of colonial rule contributed to the rise of nationalistic movements (India, Africa, Southeast Asia). 7.5: Analyze the emergence of capitalism as a dominant economic pattern and the responses to it from various nations and groups (e.g., utopianism, social democracy, socialism, communism, etc.). 7.6: Explain how economic crisis contributed to the growth of various political and economic movements (e.g., Great Depression, nationalistic movements of colonial Africa and Asia, socialist and communist movements, effect on capitalist economic theory, etc.).
Essential Questions:
1.To what extent do industrialization, nationalism, and imperialism play a role in creating conflict among nations and bring about social, political, and economic change? 2. How does the struggle for land and resources lead to competition and result in war? 3. How can economic crisis create a call for reforms and bring about new ideas regarding economic systems and political leadership? 4. What are the positive and negative implications of increased global interconnectedness?
Major Learning Points:
1. Innovation, industrialism and urbanization can transform social structure, government policies, and economic systems, creating new opportunities and challenges for peoples, groups, and nations.
2. National identity and ambition can lead to competition among nations, creating international conflict and changes in global political, economic and social relationships.
3. When economic power is used to dominate nations, groups within a nation may begin to seek control over their national identity, independence, and economic well-being.
4. The desire for power and resources manifested in imperialism can result in a shift in balance of economic and political power resulting in increase global interconnection.
5. Industrialization led to inequality among nations and brought about new ideas and critiques about economic systems Labors unions were created
6. Emergence of socialism as economic theory - Economic ideas regarding socialism and communism, especially those of Karl Marx, influenced the Russian Revolution and led to the creation of the Soviet Union, strengths and weaknesses of capitalism as compared to competing economic philosophies
7. Industrialized nations sought to acquire resources and markets to fuel their economies at the expense of underdeveloped nations which led to the age of new imperialism. Imperialism brought nations into conflict in a competition for finite resources.
8. Berlin Conference & the Scramble for Africa - British Empire
9. Open-Door Policy and China - Japanese annexation of Korea and the Sino-Japanese & Russo-Japanese Wars Reasons for and consequences of dollar diplomacy in the West
10. Nationalism because a focal point for German and Italian unification and a motivating force behind various independence movements, Bismarck and realpolitik was successful in Germany, Passive resistance by Gandhi helped end British rule in India - Indian nationalism, African peoples challenge European dominance and achieve independence
11. How and why major political, military, and economic campaigns or decisions have changed the course of history and resulted in watershed moments/turning points. Causes of World War One: Industrialization led to rise of imperialism, nationalism, militarism, and the establishment of entangled alliance systems among nations. Assassination of the heir to Austro-hungarian throne by nationalist Serbian sparked World War I. Mechanization of warfare due to industrialization and the introduction of new weapon technologies resulted in the first “total war” and changed the way wars are fought. “Total War” entailed that belligerent nations mobilize entire populations and economies and employ new military tactics and resulted in unprecedented death and destruction, as well as drastic changes in political boundaries. Disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and establishment of new Middle Eastern nations contribute to economic and military competition in the 20th century. Debt and conditions of the Treaty of Versailles from WWI became motivation in Germany’s increased nationalism. The economic conditions imposed on Germany as a result of the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions that contributed to the outbreak of World War Two.