THE ADVENT OF STEAM POWER AS REVOLUTIONARY
Introduction
The advent of steam power 600 years after scientists in ancient Greece discovered the power of untapped steam proved to be the beginning of the revolution. Steam power proved to be the driving force in the industrial revolution, thus overcoming challenges posed by the insufficient labor force. During the industrial revolution, steam power played a key role in developments in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture, thus characterized as revolutionary. The invention of steam power necessitated growth and development in most of the developing countries and revolutionized the workforce. The revolution started in 1698 when Thomas Savery developed the first operated steam-machine to be used in mining. Consequently, the invention revolutionized the way in which water would be drawn from flooded mines through the use of steam technology. Therefore, the advent of steam power proved to be revolutionary relative to technological developments in agriculture, mining, and transport.
Powering the industrial revolution
The advent of steam power can be depicted as totally revolutionary because vapor energy improved operations during the industrial revolution. Before the advent of steam, power factories used water and manpower, which were not very reliable (Barca, 2011). For instance, factories that used water energy had to be located near a river, thus unreliable during dry or winter seasons. As such, the invention of steam ensured that manufacturing firms would be located anywhere. Besides, steam energy was reliable, thus revolutionized the manufacturing industry through increased levels of production. The power was also reliable since the energy was enough to operate huge machines having large power consumption. Therefore, Thomas Savery played a huge role in the revolution through the creation of an improved and efficient form of energy for industrial purposes. In 1712 a steam engine developed by Newcomen was capable of pumping water out of mines, thus revolutionizing the mining industry (Albritton, 2012). Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Steam power proved to be one of the vital technologies in the industrial revolution since the energy boiled water for mechanical purposes during the 17th century. As such, the introduction of steam led to the improvement in technology and production, thus allowing the development of some other smaller but effective engines. For instance, steam power proved revolutionary since it led to Richard Trevithick’s development of high-pressure engines, which were much applicable during the industrial revolution. Afterward, steam engines were used in developing boats and road vehicles, which served as the beginning of the revolution. The advent of steam power characterizes its impact on revolution and other developments, which proved revolutionary in the long-term (Albritton, 2012). Besides, steam power led to a collaboration between engineering and engine building through Matthew Boulton, which formed a key pillar in the industrial revolution. The interaction created interactions between pertinent stakeholders to initiate developments crucial for revolution during the industrial era.
Moreover, the advent of steam power can be considered revolutionary since it revived the textile industry, which was considered as a bustling trade. The invention of steam power during the 18th century put to an end the sheer manual work, thus resulting in increased production gains in the textile industry. Prior to the invention, operations in the textile industry were perceived as a manual occupation but slowly changed to one of the most lucrative jobs in Europe (Barca, 2011). As such, operations in the industry were mechanized as a way of increasing productivity. In Europe, textile manufacturing originated in South Lancashire in Britain, while later, Germany continued the practice in the Ruhr region and Wupper Valley. Besides, the advent of steam power led to the easier transportation of textile products across Europe, thus playing a key role in revolutionization (Potter, 2012). The excess steam power would be used in creating weaving sheds that were fully automated due to power availability.
The invention of steam power led to the mutual stimulation of other industries such as coal, steel, and iron industries during the industrialization era. As such, the industries increased production, thus making other types of fuels cheaper and affordable by most of the countries in Europe (Potter, 2012). For instance, the rotary action steam was used in conjunction with the iron mining process, thus making the process easier and efficient. Hence, steam power led to the industrial revolution experienced in Europe around the 18th century, which proved crucial towards key developments. Historians like Deane postulate that the engines were applicable in large-scale industries, thus led to massive production levels, which characterized economic growth and development (Allen, 2011). Steam engines ensured that coal, steam, and iron industries were subjected to the cheap workforce as compared to human labor, which seemed unreliable. So, the invention increased the viability and sustainability of most of the financial statements made by companies during the industrialization era.
Transportation
Steam power revolutionized Europe by developing efficient transport systems in Europe during the industrial revolution era. Inventors in France and the United States utilized steam power to construct some of the first ships powered by steam engines. For example, in 1807, the first steamship was developed by Robert Fulton hence exhibiting the implication of steam technology in the transport industry. In the 19th century first two decades, inventors played a key role in solving some of the problems attributed to the use of steam in ships. After 1807, steam-powered locomotives were developed, which carried a load of ten tons at a speed of 8km/h hence creating the path for revolution (Allen, 2011). The years that followed were characterized by massive developments in the transport industry with improved locomotives being manufactured. Steam power was the basis of the locomotives, thus steered Europe towards revolutionization.
Steam power ensured that people would use steamboats and railroads for transportation, contrary to prior times. Besides, steam engines were utilized to improve military vehicles, thus revolutionizing the industrial era based on technological developments. As such, inventions made by Newcomen revolutionized the transport sector through the development of efficient means of transport contrary to prior centuries. Developments due to steam power helped boost the economy during the 18th and 19th centuries (Allen, 2011). Hence, steam power played a key role in achieving revolutionization during the industrial era. So, the advent of steam power led to further inventions aimed at achieving developmental changes during that era. As a result, James Watt is credited with developing the first working steam engine, which helped jumpstart the industrial revolution in Europe (Heaton, 2017). Many other investors tried to make improvements on the steam engine and succeeded in leading to the industrial revolution, which changed Europe and America forever.
In addition, steam power was revolutionary since people in Europe started using vapor powered engines for local transport. Interestingly, steam-powered cars were developed in the 1890s, with around 100 firms making automobiles powered by steam (McDonough & Braungart, 2017). However, inventors developed new means of travel using steam power since the initial engines were not effective as would be required. As such, the steam engines became popular and were crucial in achieving revolution due to the development of convenient forms of transport compared to prior centuries. Nevertheless, the revolution was hampered by problems since the steam power engines had to gain power for about 15 minutes, and some traveled for the only 2.5mph. Steam power provided numerous advantages that helped European countries achieve development in the long-term to retain their economic sustainability compared to other regions (Alin, 2014). Improvement of the local transport systems and military vehicles served as the great implications leading to revolution. Therefore, steam power proved revolutionary in realizing the change needed to sustain economic growth in Europe.
Economic impact
The advent of steam power proved essential in the economic growth of the United States due to the easy movement of locomotives. As such, economic growth due to the invention of steam power helped the North to win the civil war due to the troops’ ability to move and deliver supplies easily to the south. Consequently, the end of the civil war enabled the US to move its supplies more easily, thus populating its western region (Dickinson, 2011). In 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was developed and opened up the interior to more economic development compared to prior years. Also, in the UK, the steam engine led to economic growth due to the development of steam locomotives, which opened up the interior during the 19th century. Hence, the economic development of the interior regions proved critical in the industrial revolution so as to achieve financial growth in Europe (Wilde, 2019).
Moreover, the advent of steam power would be considered revolutionary due to its economic advantages in the United Kingdom. Steam power boosted exports in the United Kingdom due to the development of the canal network, which provided for faster transportation means. As such, the steam engines facilitated a faster movement of goods and supplies across the nation; thus, raw materials would be easily transported to the industries (McDonough & Braungart, 2017). Consequently, the iron, textile, and iron industries grew at an alarming rate, which posed economic advantages to the UK’s industrial and economic sectors. With the invention of steam power, the industrial output in the UK increased, thus revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. During the mid-19th century, the UK’s industrial production was way much higher compared to the rest of the regions (Whipps, 2018). The economic development can, therefore, be considered revolutionary due to the greatly enhanced demand for coal relative to its industrial application.
The advent of steam power increased the need for coal though it was advantageous since the United Kingdom had vast coal mines (Alin, 2014). As a result, steam power expanded the mining industry as the primary industry in the UK, thus increasing its financial implication towards the country’s economy. Besides, steam power led to the linkage of rail links to the sea-side resorts resulting in their expansion to playing a critical role in economic developments. Thus, sea resorts led to the development of holiday sites, which accrued huge amounts of money in revenue (Pearson & Foxon, 2012). For instance, resorts such as Blackpool emerged in the mid-19th century to form the basis of economic developments in the region with the high number of visitors using the steam-powered trains (Stearns, 2012). Therefore, entrepreneurs exploited the opportunity to invest in the area leading to massive economic developments. Presently, the trains form attraction sites, which are exclusive vacation site for the tourists visiting the country.
In addition, steam power would be considered revolutionary since it helped the US grow as a critical player in international e-commerce. Steam engines ensured that the ships would move faster against the waves from major cities in the US, such as New Orleans and St. Louis (Morrar, Arman & Mousa, 2017). Hence, steam-powered engineered engines revolutionized internal processes in the US, having great economic significance (Dickinson, 2011). Thus, the steamship was developed as a strategic response to the need for developing economies in America and Europe relative to innovations during the time. It is evident that internal improvements played a critical role in antebellum issues in the US. As a result, the United States grew as an international e-commerce hub hence as a position to dictate trade policies in underdeveloped countries. Steam power, therefore, revolutionized the US economy to grow as the world’s superpower relative to increased economic activities within its states (Wrigley, 2017).
Urbanization
The advent of steam power led to the urbanization of some of the current major cities in America and Europe. The invention of steam-powered engines was itself revolutionized since individuals moved to the cities in search of jobs. Before the advent of Stephenson’s rocket in 1801, London had a population of 1,117,000 but doubled to 2,685,000 by 1851 (McDonough & Braungart, 2017). The population growth is attributable to the innovation of steam power engines, which facilitated the movement of people into the city. Other cities in the UK, with a population of over 100,000 people, experienced a population upsurge due to the development of textile and agriculturally based industries in the cities. By 1861, London had urbanized with only 2.4% of its residents still practicing agriculture, while 49.4% were engaged in the transport or manufacturing industries (Stearns, 2012). Evidently, the advent of steam created a major turning point in urbanization, which changed the history of the UK.
Improvements on the 2500 steam-powered engines operating in England necessitated further urbanization in some of the major cities in the UK. As such, urbanization led to improved employment terms such as being paid on an hourly basis contrary to the sunrise to sunset basis of work. So, the standards of living improved relative to urbanization since most of the products became cheaper due to the ease of moving goods and services across Europe (Dickinson, 2011). The invention of steam engines led to the sprout of businesses, which was vital in urbanizing major cities such as London by paving the way for modern developments. Without a doubt, the invention of locomotives powered by steam revolutionized America and Europe through urbanization, thus developing as key development hubs in the region (Heaton, 2017). The invention has seen the UK and US cities become urbanized, thus controlling a huge portion of the world’s economy.
Counterarguments
Despite steam power being considered revolutionary, pollution by major industries such as coal and textile released hazardous compounds into the atmosphere. The pollution has continued to the present day with polluted rivers and air filled with smoke being the norm in some of the major cities globally. For instance, the locomotives powered by steam power released carbon dioxide, which is detrimental to the atmosphere (Stearns, 2012). As such, the smoke has led to poor air quality and living conditions, which further complicated the need for having a sustainable environment. As a result, the advent of steam power led to poor living and working conditions due to the increased pollution from industries and locomotives. For example, China experiences high rates of pollution, thus horrible living conditions and air quality since the invention of steam power (Whipps, 2018). So, the direct and indirect effects of the advent of steam power are evident in the modern-day environmental changes.
Moreover, the advent of steam power led to rampant cases of child labor since people utilized locomotives to move to the cities in search of job opportunities (Bogart et al., 2017). Children were the major causalities of the advent of steam power. As such, children were subjected to elongated working hours with little breaks due to selfish gains by some of the revolution bosses. The experiences can be best explained by the Sadler committee of 1832 with William Cooper explaining some of his experiences while working in the factories (Potter, 2012). The 28-year-old described working in the factories at his tender as exploitive since they were required to start work by five in the morning until 9 pm. Children were also subjected to physical abuse and could be trapped in the machine they were operating, thus risking their own life (Abdelmegid, 2014). The cases of innumerable minors in Europe after the advent of steam power were rampant, thus calling for the best measures to be undertaken by the authorities.
Finally, the advent of steam power increased the slave trade due to the high demand for labor to work in the textile and cotton industries. Slaves were used to offering raw materials required for the revolution, specifically around major cities such as Manchester. As such, raw materials to be used in cotton were provided by slaves, which led to high acquisition rates for slaves, mostly from African countries (Stearns, 2012). The invention of steam power led to the growth of the Atlantic economy, which required high supplies of cheap labor from the slaves. Therefore, from this perspective, the advent of steam power cannot be perceived as revolutionary relative to the negative effects attributed to increased slavery in Europe and America during the industrial revolution (Whipps, 2018). It is evident that the Atlantic economy grew due to the slave trade, which forms a negative notion of revolution.
Conclusion
The invention of steam power formed the backbone of revolution as experienced in the UK and the US during the industrial era. The invention would be characterized as revolutionary since it powered the industrial revolution. As such, industries such as cotton and textile grew due to the availability of convenient power source compared to energy harnessed through the water. Also, steam power helped transform the transport sector following the advent of locomotives, which helped move people to the interior parts. As a result, the interior locations were opened up for development; thus, steam power characterized as revolutionary. Besides, the advent of steam power led to economic growth in the region hence revolutionizing the economic viability of the region. Urbanization also deems the advent of steam power as revolutionary due to the development of major towns. However, the counterarguments downplay the revolutionizing perspective due to some of the negative impacts of steam power invention.
References
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