Question

#3 the social impact of the industrial revolution (part 1), 621-627

1. why did population increase, even as birth rates went down? give specific causes.
2. ireland was the only european nation with a declining population in the 19th century. why?
3. in a 4-6 sentence paragraph, describe the problems associated with rapid urbanization in the 19th century. (5pts)
4. what reforms did edwin chadwick advocate for?
5. who were the new industrial entrepreneurs of the industrial revolution?

why were so many of the new entrepreneurs from religious minorities?

Explanation:

1. Population rose despite falling birth rates due to sharp drops in death rates: industrialization brought better food production (higher crop yields, improved transportation reducing famine), early public health advancements (cleaner water access, basic sewage improvements), and reduced infant mortality from better nutrition.
2. Ireland's population declined because of the Great Famine (1845-1852): a potato blight destroyed the staple crop of the poor, causing mass starvation, disease, and emigration (over 1 million left, and hundreds of thousands died).
3. Rapid 19th-century urbanization created severe overcrowding, as workers flocked to factory cities faster than housing could be built, leading to cramped, unsanitary tenements with no running water or proper sewage. These conditions fueled the spread of cholera, typhus, and other infectious diseases, which killed thousands annually with little medical treatment available for the working class. Additionally, the lack of urban planning meant no public green spaces, and constant air and water pollution from coal-burning factories and raw waste made daily life unhealthy and miserable for city dwellers.
4. Edwin Chadwick advocated for public health reforms focused on sanitary infrastructure: he pushed for centralized sewage systems, clean public water supplies, and improved waste disposal, arguing that poor sanitation was the root of disease and high mortality rates.
5. The new industrial entrepreneurs were mostly self-made men from the middle class or skilled working class, who invested in new technologies like steam power, textile mills, and railroads, such as Richard Arkwright and James Watt.

Many came from religious minorities (like Quakers, Methodists, and Jews) because they were barred from traditional elite professions (law, government, established church roles) in many European countries, so they turned to business and innovation as a path to success. These groups also often emphasized frugality, hard work, and community networks that supported business ventures.

Answer:

1. Population increased due to plummeting death rates from improved food production, early public health measures, and reduced infant mortality, which offset falling birth rates.
2. Ireland's population declined due to the 1845-1852 Great Famine: potato blight destroyed the staple crop, causing mass starvation, disease, and large-scale emigration.
3. Rapid 19th-century urbanization led to extreme overcrowding in unplanned, unsanitary tenements with no running water or sewage systems, which sparked deadly outbreaks of cholera and typhus. Factories spewed coal smoke and chemical waste, polluting air and water supplies, while the lack of urban planning left no public green spaces, creating a miserable, unhealthy environment for working-class residents who had no access to adequate medical care.
4. Edwin Chadwick advocated for public health reforms, specifically centralized sewage systems, clean public water supplies, and organized waste disposal to reduce disease.
5. The new industrial entrepreneurs were self-made middle/working-class men who invested in steam, textile, and railroad technologies (e.g., Richard Arkwright, James Watt).

Many were religious minorities because they were excluded from traditional elite professions, so they turned to business; their communities also valued frugality and hard work that supported entrepreneurial success.