This paper will try to prove one side of a contreversial point; were the Industrial Revolution's horrendous working conditions worth the technological advances we made? It won't be defending the moral side, it will say that the advances were worth it. The paper will be prove this by giving facts like; the Industrial Revolution lighted the world, connected our country, and connected the world. The Industrial Revolution's short-term downfalls were worth it's long- lasting innovations and inventions.
Thomas Edison is one of the greatest inventors ever. He had over 1,000 patents. Leonardo DiVinci is probably the only person with more inventions. His most prominent invention is the light bulb. It's so well known that it's taken for granted. Almost everyone in the world has seen a lightbulb in action, making it a universal object. From one lifetime came a wealth of helpful things that might not have exsisted if the Industrial Revolution hadn't spurred him on.
The railroads may now be a little obsolete outside the city, but as early as 50 years ago they were a major mode of transportation. It started with the Bessemer Process which made steel easy to obtain. Then the refrigerated car was developed to make beef transfer more efficient. Next, a huge national network was created from railroads. When the network gained passenger cars, it made everywhere accessible, and the great flood west increased. A new spark of light rail development in the cities and subway development over the last 100 years has kept railroads from slipping into oblivion and has also provided cheap, reliable transportation for commuters. The nation was connected for the first time by railroads.
Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone ranks right up near the lightbulb as one of the most important inventions ever. When he invented it, it's almost certain he didn't imagine the implications it has brought - the instant conversation with someone across the world, a huge, accessible database (the Internet), and sky-high phone rates. First it was used to call people and talk to them, then business took it over to connect the world of trading, and now the Internet where you can do or see almost anything. The phone has truly connected the world.
The Industrial Revolution's working conditions were among the worst ever. People had little pay, even though they worked 15 hour days in hazardous conditions and they did repetitive things. Even little kids were expected to get a job when they were 5 or 6 to support the family, because their parents didn't rake in enough cash by themselves.
The Industrial Revolution definitely wasn't morally right, but what would the world be like without the lightblub, the phone, or railroads. It'd be a lot worse and that's for sure.
