What factors enabled Germany to outstrip England and France in industrialization
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Industrialization and the World Economy
Almost as a byproduct of industrialization and nationalism, Europe entered its third great expansion into the world in the last half of the nineteenth century. The first great expansion had been the crusades; the second the expansion of European population, culture, and influence into the Americas and Asia during the Age of Discovery. The third expansion was the most dramatic and most aggressive; it was based on a stream of European products, people, and ideas flowing from Europe to other parts of the world.
The third great expansion had economic beginnings. With the industrial revolution, the ability of European industry to produce had increased exponentially. Those areas of the world that industrialized increased their wealth and power enormously in comparison to those who did not. As a result, a gap developed between the developed industrialized nations of the world and the non-industrialized "developing" areas, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Three important elements must be born in mind:
In 1750, the standard of living in Europe was no greater than in the rest of the world; however by 1970, the average person in the wealthiest countries had an income twenty five times greater than that received by the average person in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia.
Industrialization opened the gap of wealth and well being between developed and undeveloped countries. Great Britain, which led in the industrial revolution, at first jumped ahead of other countries, but as they began to industrialize, Britain's lead narrowed.
Income in the Third World (developing countries) stagnated before 1913, whereas in industrialized nations income increased dramatically. Equal disparities in food, clothing, health, education, life expectancy, and general well being existed.
World trade grew at a prodigious rate in the late nineteenth century. In 1913, the value of world trade was $38 Billion; twenty five times greater than it had been in 1800. If one considers that the average price of manufactured goods had actually decreased during that time, the disparity appears even greater. Great Britain took the lead in using trade to tie the world together economically. Britain had a large empire including India, Canada, and Australia. The breakthroughs of the Industrial Revolution allowed Britain to manufacture cotton textiles, iron, and other goods more cheaply and as a result, production soon outstripped demand in domestic markets. So, European manufacturers sought markets elsewhere in the world. Cotton Textiles are a case in point. In 1820, Britain exported 50 per cent of its textile production. Europe bought 50 percent, while India bought only 6 percent. Then, as protective tariffs were erected in the United States and other European countries against British textiles, manufacturers aggressively sought other markets in non-European areas. In 1850, India was buying 25 per cent of British textiles and Europe only 16 per cent. Since India was a British colony, it could not erect tariffs to protect its own textile industry, and as a result, many Indian weavers were put out of work by cheap British textiles.
Almost as a byproduct of industrialization and nationalism, Europe entered its third great expansion into the world in the last half of the nineteenth century. The first great expansion had been the crusades; the second the expansion of European population, culture, and influence into the Americas and Asia during the Age of Discovery. The third expansion was the most dramatic and most aggressive; it was based on a stream of European products, people, and ideas flowing from Europe to other parts of the world.
The third great expansion had economic beginnings. With the industrial revolution, the ability of European industry to produce had increased exponentially. Those areas of the world that industrialized increased their wealth and power enormously in comparison to those who did not. As a result, a gap developed between the developed industrialized nations of the world and the non-industrialized "developing" areas, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Three important elements must be born in mind:
In 1750, the standard of living in Europe was no greater than in the rest of the world; however by 1970, the average person in the wealthiest countries had an income twenty five times greater than that received by the average person in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia.
Industrialization opened the gap of wealth and well being between developed and undeveloped countries. Great Britain, which led in the industrial revolution, at first jumped ahead of other countries, but as they began to industrialize, Britain's lead narrowed.
Income in the Third World (developing countries) stagnated before 1913, whereas in industrialized nations income increased dramatically. Equal disparities in food, clothing, health, education, life expectancy, and general well being existed.
World trade grew at a prodigious rate in the late nineteenth century. In 1913, the value of world trade was $38 Billion; twenty five times greater than it had been in 1800. If one considers that the average price of manufactured goods had actually decreased during that time, the disparity appears even greater. Great Britain took the lead in using trade to tie the world together economically. Britain had a large empire including India, Canada, and Australia. The breakthroughs of the Industrial Revolution allowed Britain to manufacture cotton textiles, iron, and other goods more cheaply and as a result, production soon outstripped demand in domestic markets. So, European manufacturers sought markets elsewhere in the world. Cotton Textiles are a case in point. In 1820, Britain exported 50 per cent of its textile production. Europe bought 50 percent, while India bought only 6 percent. Then, as protective tariffs were erected in the United States and other European countries against British textiles, manufacturers aggressively sought other markets in non-European areas. In 1850, India was buying 25 per cent of British textiles and Europe only 16 per cent. Since India was a British colony, it could not erect tariffs to protect its own textile industry, and as a result, many Indian weavers were put out of work by cheap British textiles.
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