AP European History Unit 6 Cheatsheet: Industrialization and Its Effects

Raw materials & geography:

• Coal, iron ore, essential resources readily available
• Island geography enabled trade networks

Economic & human capital:

• Engineers, inventors, capitalists—largely private initiative
• Banks and financial institutions
• Government awards to inventors

Political climate:

• Parliamentary government represented commercial interests
• Repeal of Corn Laws (1846) removed trade barriers
• Mechanization of textiles, iron/steel, new transport

Symbol: Crystal Palace, Great Exhibition of 1851

France: Gradual pace, government support, less disruption to traditional production

Prussia/Germany: Rapid state-sponsored industrialization; Zollverein, transport investment, Friedrich List's National System

Eastern & Southern Europe lagged:

• Limited natural resources, lack of transport infrastructure
• Autocratic government, rural society with little capital
• Primitive agricultural practices, famines ("Hungry '40s," Irish potato famine)
• Russian serfdom tied labor to land

Scope: More areas industrialized; processes increased in complexity

Key technologies: Bessemer process, electricity, chemicals, internal combustion engine, telegraph, telephone, radio, airplane, refrigerated rail cars, streetcars

New industries: Chemicals, electricity/utilities, automobiles, leisure travel, professional sport

Economic volatility: Business cycles led to market management via monopolies, banking practices, tariffs

Result: Integrated national economies, global economic network, higher urbanization