Industrial Revolution Essay, Research Paper

How Did The Industrial Revolution Affect A Person s Quality of Life?

One s quality of life is defined as the degree of well-being felt by a person or a group of persons. It is concerned with a citizen s consumption of goods and services, human rights and the environment. The industrial revolution have produced great wealth to many citizens that influences their state of well being. Others may argue that the changes and advancements in society have brought the burden of scarce resources, diseases and pollution among it s people. Rather the opposite is true, the positive effects that the revolution have introduced such as the high availability of employment, food, and human rights and the opportunity for future growth overpowers these problems. Therefore it is accurate to say that the benefits of the industrial revolution have improved one s quality of life. One characteristic that concerns the condition of a person s life is the freedom for an occupation. This period of change have conducted the use of machinery for many types of production. Some believe that the substitution of machines for human labor have created high rates of unemployment for many nations. Before the revolution, jobs were very limited because work was accomplished through animal power and hand labor. Also many tasks required men with considerable skills which could only be accomplished through long hours of work and practice. In the past and in the present it could be clearly seen that the sprouting factories have brought high commands for individuals to function the births of new technology. Henry Ford s assembly line for example required thousands of workers with minimal skills to meet the increasing demand of goods. Presently new advancements in society like the computer phenomena have created plenty of opportunities for many citizens, and as new inventions are continually being introduced the demands for workers remains to increase. It is right for a person to say that as the requirements of consumers expand, the factory system and production enlarges consequently inflicting the availability of world resources for the future. Yet, a particular aspect that affect quality of living is the satisfaction one feels through the attainment of their needs and wants. The centralization of production in factories have increased the expedience of both required necessities and unimportant highly desired products. One evident factor is the access to the efficient harvests of fundamental foods. As a result of new technologies in the domestication of plants and animals, people s diets contain more variety and food sources have become more secure. In the past the productions of necessities were very low, inefficient and undependable. The realm of wants was oblivious to citizens as they spent long hours and performed hard labor to achieve life s essentials. After the industrial revolution basic needs such as food, health, education, shelter, water supply and sanitation are easily accessible and attainable. It s true that as the Industrial age evolved accompanying itself with future economic growth, it has also revolutionized environmental problems that have negatively inflicted people s health. A person s health is one of the vital factors in categorizing a person s standard of living. At the same time, agricultural changes providing a better level of diet, improved sanitation practices and discoveries in medicine have enhanced mankind s lifestyles. These findings have reduced mortality rates, cured deadly diseases and have greatly impacted humans lives more than the environmental concerns conveyed by the factory system. Also another factor that determines quality of life is the rate of contentment felt by the person. The revolution has introduced excellent health conditions, limited concerns about diseases and more personal time due to the elimination of hand labor. Inhabitants therefore occupy more freedom to experience existence, participate in recreational activities and posses more hours to develop special skills and to satisfy their desires. All these elements modify the state of happiness felt by a person and stimulates their opinion on the quality of their life. In conclusion the birth of the industrial revolution brought upon economic, political and social changes that remains to benefit many individuals today. Inventions and discoveries introduced new ways of production that have constructed great wealth for many nations. Life for human kind became more efficient, easy and enjoyable. Individual liberty, personal freedom, economic and social equality emerged from the uprising of what is known to be characteristics of human rights. The consequences of the industrial revolution have delivered positive effects that have improved and enhanced practically every aspect that characterize a satisfactory quality of life.