Main Idea: The
Industrial Revolution led to economic, social, and political reforms.
Industrialization provokes positive and negative reactions in society. Some
philosophers extol the virtues of free market capitalism, while others promote
socialism, unionization, and a variety of reform movements designed to blunt
the harsh effects of industrialism.
IV. Age of Reform
A. Philosophers
1. Laissez-faire Economics: government
should not interfere or regulate industries or businesses
a Adam Smith The Wealth of Nations; support a free market and oppose government
regulation; economic liberty = economic progress
2. Capitalism: economic system—money is
invested in business ventures with the goal of making a profit
a natural law governs economic life
b Thomas Malthus: An Essay on the Principle of Population
c David Ricardo: Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
3. All opposed government efforts to help
the poor workers
B. Rise of Socialism
1. Governments should intervene; wealthy
or government must take action to improve people’s lives
2. Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham; government
should promote general welfare—judge ideas, institutions, and actions on
usefulness (utility)
a John Stuart Mill: called for gov’t to
rid of differences in wealth
b Pushed for reforms: legal, prison,
education
3. Utopia: Robert Owen; cooperative communities
4. Socialism & Marxism: factors of
production are owned by the public and operate for the welfare of all—state controls
to achieve social and economic equality
a Charles Fourier, Saint-Simon
b Communist Manifesto: Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels;
pamphlet argued that human societies have always been divided—bourgeoisie (have)
and proletariats (have-nots); predicted the workers would unite and overthrow
the owners
i
Communism: economic
system; all means of production are owned by the people, private property does
not exist, and all goods and services are shared equally
ii Revolts: 1848 & 1849—suppressed;
1900s—Russia’s Lenin, China’s Mao Zedong, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh, Cuba’s Castro
c Idea: economic forces alone dominated
society—proven false
1. Unions: workers organize to raise wages
and improve conditions
a collective bargaining: negotiations
between workers and employers
b became established and legal: Ex. AFL
(USA)
2. Reform Laws: passed to limit child
labor and set work hours
a Britain: Factory Act of 1833, Mines Act
of 1842
3. Abolition of Slavery: ended by late 1800s
4. Women: fight for change, reform, and
equality
a International Council for Women, 1888
5. Other areas
a Education: Horace Mann—public education
b Prisons: restore to usefulness