The 1800s was a century of significant change and progress in many parts of the world. The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 1700s, continued to transform the economies of Europe and North America, leading to the growth of factories, railroads, and other technological advancements. In the United States, the 1800s saw the country expand westward, with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubling the size of the country. The Civil War, which took place in the middle of the century, challenged the idea of “manifest destiny” and left the nation teetering on the edge of complete fracture. The 1800s were also a time of great intellectual and technical progress, with many people acquiring astonishing economic gains.
In Europe, the 1800s saw the rise of the Industrial Revolution, which brought about significant economic growth and urbanization. The population of major countries increased between 50 and 100 percent, chiefly as a result of the use of new food crops such as the potato and a temporary decline in epidemic disease. This population growth compelled change, and the social structure changed toward a basic division between owners and non-owners. Production expanded, leading by the end of the 18th century to a first wave of consumerism as rural wage earners began to purchase new kinds of commercially produced clothing, while urban middle-class families began to indulge in new tastes, such as uplifting books and educational toys for children. In this context, an outright industrial revolution took shape, led by Britain, which retained leadership in industrialization well past the middle of the 19th century.
In Africa, the 1800s saw immense changes, with some driven by famine and disease, and others by the territorial ambitions of African rulers. As the century progressed, alliances with merchants and missionaries from Europe began increasingly to have a bearing on how African leaders achieved their goals. In South Africa, the 1800s saw the rise of the British Empire, with the British occupying the Cape for a second time in 1806. The formal
What Happened In The 1800s image
