Compare the Causes and Early Phases of the Industrial Revolution in Western Europe and Japan

Compare the causes and early phases of the industrial revolution in Western Europe and Japan

Causes of Industrialization in Japan

government pushed industrialization because they wanted to compete with the more industrialized nations
the need to build a more modernized army and navy also caused industrialization
Japanese wanted to avoid the Western domination that China had succumbed to
Pressure from Western countries to trade with them and fear of being split up into spheres of influence

Causes of Industrialization in Western Europe

Western Europe wished to emerge from their single concentration on agriculture
They wanted to increase their concern with commerce, trade, exploration, development of new technologies (economic initiatives)
Modern industrial revolution began with the search for profit from the manufacture of cotton textiles
As the level of imports for cotton increased, enterprising businessmen were looking for ways to produce the cloth in Europe
After the early 1600s, the most active country in the India trade was Britain, so they began experimenting new ways to manufacture imported cotton (since the climate was too cold to grow in Europe)

Early Phases of Industrialization in Japan

Government banks funded growing trade and provided capital for industry
Cities became more crowded with people- new agricultural methods were developed to provide enough food for the growing population in cities
Industrialization in Japan took less time than in Western Europe because the government in Japan backed industrialization
Private ownership played a role in the growing economy- especially in textile sector
Large industrial combines known as zaibatsu were being formed
At disadvantage because of lack of resources- forced to import Western equipment and raw materials such as coal
Much of the production was based on labor of women who worked from home or in sweat shops and were poorly paid
Efforts at protest to poor working conditions were repressed

Early phases of Industrialization in Western Europe

Large numbers of people moved off the farms to find work in the cities
Overcrowded cities led to unsanitary conditions and small living spaces
There were no laws to protect workers so they were often paid very low wages and worked long hours in unsafe conditions
Industrial Revolution began in Britain around 1700
British cotton textile industry grew – world’s most productive
Britain’s railway network became the nation’s principal means of inland transportation and communication
Many expelled farmers turned to rural/domestic industry to provide for their family
In the 1800s, power looms became one of the most important inventions of the industrial revolution
Also, the steam engine was a CRUCIAL development (steam-powered cotton textile mills)
Cotton textiles became the most important product of British industries by 1820, making up almost half of the exports