Industrialization in the period 1700 and 1800
In the process of industrialization in Great Britain in the 18th century, advancement in transportation and communication technologies facilitated economic growth and development. Local goods and services produced in the kingdom were easy and cheap to transport compared to other regional competitors. In Germany and Italy for instance, lack of railroad and telephone limited mobility of products and communication among trading partners. Innovations in transportation made it comparatively easier to transit goods more than seventy miles away from and to the sea hence facilitating international trade. Innovations in shipping derived from building canals on rivers in Britain during the period 1760-1800 (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). As such ships and marine transportation became cheaper and easier to transport goods to local and international economies. A major boost to the industrialization process was reliance on a powerful Navy and defence of ships while in the seas, thus improving investor confidence due to lack of property and cargo losses.
Railroads made it easier for Britain to transform local industries by sustaining adequate demand and quality labour in trade and transportation of goods. For example, in 1825, a public railway opened that run between Stockton to Darlington and facilitated the movement of raw materials and reducing logistical challenges in communication and transportation. The pioneer in the industrialization movement was George Stephenson as the designer and constructor of Liverpool to Manchester railway (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). As the kingdom sought to establish itself as the geopolitical centre of trade and technological innovations in Europe, the government established a national rail network through the assistance of George Stephenson hence becoming a leader in industrialization in the 18th century. Moreover, the British government explored foreign trade and domestic travel to enhance sourcing of industrial technologies and raw materials.
Effects on the European balance of power
An early impact of industrialization in Britain on the European balance of power was the establishment of schools and colleges such as the University of Oxford. Since industries required expert labour that was capable of reading manuals to operate machines, the kingdom became a centre of technology and innovation. In France, Napoleonic Wars were dividing the country economically and politically while brain focused on improving access to education (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). For instance, pre-industrial Britain relied on agriculture since 75% of residents could not access industrial jobs. Advancement in transportation and communication capability that facilitated industrialization meant that skilled capital would migrate from other European cities to work in Britain.
A second impact on the European balance of power was in science and technology since Britain became the source of new inventions. For example, the development of the Steam Engine in 1763 by James Watt facilitated the growth of local industries compared to other regional centres such as in Stuttgart Germany and Glasgow in Scotland. For instance, there were more than 112 steam engines operational in Britain compared to less than 32 steam engines in Germany.
A potential detriment in the balance of power was increasing the level of pollution in the kingdom compared to other countries. With a rise in the adoption of steam engines, coal production increased in over 120 years but with environmental pollution and degradation. More than 90,000 tons of coal were produced in 1700 in Britain, representing a rise in toxicity due to iron and steel factories (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). Besides that, a new production level of 600,000 tons of coal by 1830 increased disease and air pollution indicating adverse effects of industrialization.
Political reactions following industrialization in Britain in the 18th century were regular Parliament meetings to debate implications of economic development on social welfare. Industrialization fostered a sense of stability and security within the kingdom since workers were preoccupied with economic opportunities in railroad and local industries. Regular Parliament meetings were designed to debate issues such as resistance to changes in the textile industry in Britain (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). Discussions of wage rate and employee conditions caused volatility in internal politics and social administration. Lack of political divisions encouraged the kingdom to develop as a free-thinking society with a focus on citizen welfare and to exploit economic activities in steel and iron factories.
French military presented threats to British sovereignty during the 1750s leading to instability in local politics and government functioning. However, the domestic political representatives nagged with the military and the royal navy in enhancing social and economic stability and improving the security of marine vessels in the English Channel. Stability following industrialization fostered a free-thinking society that valued the creation of wealth compared to social upheavals in Europe due to the Napoleonic Wars.
An external impact of industrialization of the kingdom was a period of colonization in other lands including Africa and the Far East (Yirmibesoglu, and Dincer, 2018, p66). It was imperative for the British Empire to source labour and raw materials from other territories while sourcing for demand to enhance industrial growth locally. As such, the British Empire resorted to economic and military confrontations in Africa in the process of colonization with the focus being on expanding the wealth of the kingdom both locally and internationally. In retrospect, industrialization and innovations in communications aided Great Britain to develop nationally, and increasing domination of other territories through trade and colonization.