The family was critical to the production and sale of the goods. Because of the lifestyle’s relative difficulty, people chose to make household goods and products. However, the development of cutting-edge technologies revolutionized Britain’s manufacturing sector. Moving from rural to urban regions in search of a better life was another feature of the Industrial Revolution.

Powered equipment made industrial processes more efficient, encouraging the expansion of factories and the mass production of commodities. This situation brought about a lot of positive effects for society as well as several social issues, hardship and societal discord. The essay sheds light on how the industrial revolution affected people’s lives, paying particular attention to influencers like Adam Smith, James Watt, and Wedgwood.

Before the industrial revolution, agricultural societies powered large machines using windmills and water wheels. In the early 1700s, new technologies swiftly replaced the old machinery. A significant development for rural culture during this period was the development and use of the first steam engine to pump water. James Watt created a new steam engine in 1782 to power factory machinery. Numerous scientific and technical advancements enhanced Britain’s economic situation and citizens’ quality of life.

The railway building, which allowed people to travel from their native small villages to more urbanized areas, was another significant feature of the Industrial Revolution. As more people moved into cities, there was a rising need for amenities like housing, sanitation, and entertainment areas. Many were unhappy due to this circumstance since they were ill-equipped to cope with the new urban lifestyle. The confined, unhygienic spaces typical of the country lifestyle set it apart from city life. Factory owners understood a growing demand to develop residential homes quickly to accommodate people due to the increased migration from rural to urban areas. In the cities, back-to-back houses that shared a wall with a factory or another building started to be typical.

These construction methods frequently needed drainage systems and were crowded. As a result, people didn’t have much information about germs. Thus, diseases like cholera, typhus, and typhoid spread widely among city dwellers. For instance, between 1830 and 1867, a cholera outbreak struck Britain due to sewage runoff contaminating the water, which resulted in several fatalities. Over 7,000 people died in London between 1831 and 1832. The working class, considered poor, developed tuberculosis at a higher rate than the general population due to a poor diet, cramped living conditions, and moisture. In addition, city residents’ lung issues increased due to air pollution from industrial gases and effluents.

The living conditions were far better than the working conditions in the cities. As factories sprang up quickly during the Industrial Revolution, people in rural areas stopped being their employers and started working for them. The development and application of machines to most tasks that once required human labour led to the displacement of worker roles. As a result, the working class was compelled to support themselves by running, maintaining, or refuelling this industrial machinery, which was a taxing job.

As a result of inadequate urban policing, worrisome levels of poverty and despair, and increased crime, overcrowding in jails and prisons followed. Beginning in the early 19th century, more judges were available to address complaints and issue warrants to arrest criminals. This circumstance gave rise to a different problem that the middle class had to deal with. Due to the increase in industrial slums in the cities’ environs, this group was afraid of crime. The middle class became anxious and started protest activities against the urban slums. Increased prosecution rates resulted from this circumstance, and most working-class members could not pay them.

Adam Smith, the “father of capitalism,” was instrumental in reshaping the British economy. The Scottish philosopher held that people frequently exhibited self-interest, mainly regarding economic issues. He pushed the British government to promote free markets and trade in various instances and these ideas later emerged as the hallmarks of modern capitalism. Following the Industrial Revolution, many people toiled in mines and factories for a few pence a day.

Factory owners took advantage of the lower-class people who merely needed a few pennies to survive. Smith established that labour, manufactured goods, and agricultural outputs together made up a nation’s wealth to refute this motivation. As a result, for a country to increase its economic output, it had to ensure the division of labour. Workers began to specialize in various occupations. According to the philosopher, everyone would benefit from a free market because there would be no government involvement in company decisions. This included persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.

But around this time, child labour started to pose a severe hazard. In fact, during the Industrial Revolution, children made up nearly 80% of the labour force. If accidents happened in manufacturing, they were simple to replace and quick to hire for employers. Due to their disadvantaged upbringing, several affluent factory owners offered food and shelter for kids in exchange for labour. Additionally, recruiting kids was less expensive than hiring adults. However, this circumstance puts kids at risk for factory mishaps. Children continued to work in these factories, generation after generation because there were no laws protecting them.

Numerous commodities, especially luxury goods, were only available to the privileged members of society due to the social and economic changes brought on by more incredible agricultural innovation, proto-industrial activity, and the expansion of international trade. However, when more people moved into cities, they had more access to luxury items, which eventually trickled down to the middle class. Therefore, the merchant wanted to exploit the market and the rising demand.

Due to this circumstance, regional goods were created to compete with imports from other nations. Due to increased technological advancement during this time, the manufacturing of ceramic goods improved. Josiah Wedgwood, in particular, fueled the eighteenth-century demand in England for porcelain goods, such as tableware and decorative items. His involvement and actions in the market for luxury goods helped others recognize the sector’s significance. Most individuals preferred to work for pay in factories due to improved agricultural innovations, which accelerated rural-urban migration. As a result, the need for excellent goods that set some people apart from the rest of society grew. Eating behaviours evolved for the middle class. For instance, introducing Chinese tea sparked the growth of teaware, tearooms, and tea breaks.

Sociological changes during the era

Industrialization profoundly impacted the social class structure, leading to significant societal changes.

With the rise of factories and mass production, a new social class, the industrial working class or the proletariat, emerged. This class consisted of manual labourers who worked in factories, mines, and other industrial settings. They often faced harsh working conditions, low wages, and long hours, forming the lowest stratum of the social class structure.

Industrialization also gave rise to a middle class, which comprised professionals, managers, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs. This class benefited from the expanding industrial economy and enjoyed a higher standard of living than the working class. They often held white-collar jobs and had greater social mobility.

As industrialization progressed, there was a shift from agrarian-based economies to industrial economies. This led to a decline in the agricultural class, as traditional farming methods were replaced by machinery and large-scale farming practices. Many individuals from rural areas migrated to cities in search of factory employment, contributing to the growth of the working class.

Another creation was in the form of significant wealth distribution disparities. The capitalist system, which accompanied industrialization, allowed small individuals to accumulate vast wealth by owning industries and businesses. This resulted in a widening wealth gap between the wealthy elite and the working class, leading to increased social inequality. However, industrialization also created opportunities for upward social mobility. Education became more accessible, and lower-class individuals could acquire skills and education to improve their social standing. The middle class, in particular, experienced upward mobility as individuals moved from lower-class backgrounds into professional and managerial positions. It challenged traditional social hierarchies based on birthright and land ownership. The influence of nobility and aristocracy declined as wealth and status became more closely tied to industrial and commercial success. Economic power and meritocracy began to replace inherited social status as the primary determinants of social standing.

The industrial working class often developed a sense of solidarity and recognized shared interests in improving their conditions. They organized strikes, protests, and collective actions to exert pressure on employers and governments. These movements aimed at immediate improvements and fostered the development of broader political ideologies, such as socialism and communism, which sought to address the underlying issues of inequality and class exploitation. Over time, societal and political pressure led to the introduction of social reforms and workers’ rights. Governments enacted legislation to protect workers, including establishing minimum wage laws, limitations on working hours, workplace safety regulations, and recognizing labour unions. These reforms helped improve the lives and working conditions of industrial workers.

It’s important to note that the impact of industrialization on the social class structure varied across countries and regions, depending on factors such as the pace of industrialization, political systems, and cultural contexts. Nevertheless, automation was central in reshaping many societies’ social classes and power dynamics.

The Industrial Revolution was a transformative period that positively and negatively impacted society. It brought about significant changes in production methods, transportation infrastructure, and living conditions. However, it also led to social issues like poverty, disease, and inequality. The emergence of the working class, the middle class’s growth, and the agricultural class’s decline were significant changes in the social class structure.

While industrialization initially led to increased inequality, it also created opportunities for upward social mobility and challenged traditional social hierarchies. Ultimately, the Industrial Revolution laid the foundation for modern society and set the stage for further technological advancements. Therefore, it is essential to understand the effects of industrialization on society to address current and future challenges effectively.

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Speaking at student interaction programme, Patna University Vice-Chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh said: “The major reason for unemployment is the gap between knowledge acquired in education and the demands of industries.”

“The students should hone their professional skills so that they they are not left behind in the growth trajectory.

“Job trends are changing now. Youngsters now prefer jobs with better profiles and salary packages, irrespective of whether those are government or private jobs, but they should adapt themselves to the demands of the industry by continuously upgrading their skills,”

Laying more emphasis on job-oriented courses, Ajit Kumar, assistant vice-present of Kotak Securities, said: “The banking sector has emerged as the biggest recruiter in current times, followed by information and technology sector and e-commerce companies.”

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March 14, 2016: Banco Nacional Ultramarino, S.A. (BNU) was awarded the ‘Best Socially Responsible Bank Macau 2015’ and ‘Best Retail Bank Macau 2015’ by International Finance Magazine Awards 2015 on its long-standing and unwavering commitment to its customers, stakeholders and the community.  During a conversation with the Chief Executive Officer of BNU, Pedro Cardoso, IFM takes a closer look at the contribution of BNU to the economy and society of Macau over the years.

BNU was the first commercial bank in Macau. How has the bank evolved over the years?

BNU is the first note-issuing bank in Macau, with a 114-year history on supporting and serving the local community. For over a century, it has been part of the financial life of Macau while maintaining an active role in the social and economic development of the territory, supporting local business activities. The knowledge and experiences acquired have been essential to bring success to its customers’ businesses and projects in sectors such as retail, real estate, manufacturing, transportation, construction, public utilities and international trade.

Throughout the years, BNU has focused on various areas to grow side by side with Macau.  It took a pioneering role in supporting the new leisure and tourism developments established in Macau after the liberalisation of the gaming sector in 2002. Prior to this, it was one of the main references on the development of the manufacturing industry in the ’70s and ’80s, and also funded some of the main public infrastructure projects in Macau. Currently, our main priority is to support small and medium companies in Macau.

What were the highlights in terms of new products and services in 2015 for BNU?

2015 was a year of innovation and progress since BNU introduced an array of unique and exclusive products and services in the market. BNU has been always at the forefront of offering cutting edge services to its customers. The bank launched the BNU Asia Miles VISA Card, the first and only co-branded credit card in Macau allowing its cardholders to earn Asia Miles directly through spending. BNU also launched BNU UnionPay Triple Currency Credit Card. The only credit card, at the time, to allow cardholders to settle in MOP, HKD and RMB for purchases made in Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China, respectively. In addition, foreign transaction fees were waived for spending in other overseas countries and regions, bringing cardholder’s convenience and money-saving benefit all in one card.

BNU strived to provide the most comprehensive services in order to address various needs of its customers. Online banking experience had been extended to mobile. Services such as transfers, bill payment, time deposit and insurance subscriptions are now available through both online and mobile banking. Online Foreign Banknotes Purchase Service was also introduced. The first of its kind in the Macau market, the service provided convenience to customers by allowing them to request foreign banknotes currency through online banking and collect them at the branch designated by the customer.  Apart from online service experience, in-person service experience was another key service improvement in 2015. The Priority Counter System was introduced in selected branches to shorten the queuing time of our most prestigious customers.

What are the contributions to society and community got BNU the ‘Best Socially Responsible Bank Macau 2015’ award?

BNU attended closely to the welfare and the needs of the local society and had been actively participating and contributing for the harmonious development of the Macau society, in particular,

• Support to educational system, supporting students of schools and universities with scholarships;
• Assistance to the ones in need through partnership with leading organisations on the field;
• Support to cultural and sport activities.

In 2015, BNU made various contributions, for example, the donation of MOP 10,650,000 in support of the teaching and academic research at the University of Macau via the University of Macau Development Foundation; the annual donation to Tung Sin Tong, a contribution of a percentage of the retail spending on the BNU Tung Sin Tong affinity credit card; support for the construction of a staircase at the entrance of the consulate of Portugal; and more than 50 other sponsorships to assist the development of local charities, schools and associations.

What are the international strengths of BNU?

BNU is part of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Group, which is one of Europe’s largest financial institutions with an extensive global network in 23 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.  CGD has a presence in seven Portuguese-speaking countries and holds a leading position in five of them. It is present in Macau, Zhuhai and Shanghai and thus has established a strong platform to link up China and Macau with Portuguese-speaking countries. BNU has been extremely active in supporting trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, both on the trade and investment flows.

What are the main priorities and challenges of BNU in the future?

The strategy followed by BNU has always been to structure itself to growth — acquire the necessary conditions to create value in an increasingly competitive environment; create the structure to better meet market demands; and, of course, be very observant in order to anticipate our clients’ needs.

In recent years, the business volume of the Macau banking market has been growing at a very fast pace. However, it is a very competitive market. Macau has over 600,000 residents who are being serviced by 29 banks.

BNU aims to provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction and service quality in an exceptionally competitive environment, together with strong cost control. Over the past year, in addition to continuing with the internal restructuring process, we had enhanced training opportunities for our staff, which is a critical move to optimise the quality of our services.

The results have been encouraging. We have increased significantly the number of customers and also the average number of products per customer. As a result, the total business volume has increased by more than 20%. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio is already around 30%, a level in line with the best international practices.

BNU has flourished in a very competitive environment. É, também, um dos principais bancos comerciais de Macau.Tem presentemente mais de 200.000 clientes, aproximadamente um terço da população de Macau.Currently, it has over 214,000 customers, about one-third of Macau’s population.

With this attitude, and together with a strong balance sheet, BNU has maintained a policy of sustainable growth, reflecting our ability to create value for our customers and shareholders in the years to come.

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