Table of contentsIntroductionDemographic growth and urbanizationNew social classesEarly socialismIntroductionThe industrial revolution increased the material wealth of the European world. It also ended the dominance of agriculture and initiated significant social changes. The daily work environment has also changed dramatically in society and the West has become an urban civilization. Cities grew and two new social classes – the industrial middle class and the industrial working class – emerged. The Industrial Revolution increased and accelerated the growth of the middle class. This has helped create a modern worldview that, through appropriate use of science and technology, a more fruitful quality of life can be achieved. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Population Growth and Urbanization The population of England has increased, with little growth. Then, between 1750 and 1850, it more than doubled due to growth, falling mortality rates and wars. The industrial revolution was preceded by an agricultural revolution which increased the supply of food while decreasing the amount of labor required. Traditionally, the primary goal of agriculture was to produce enough food to avoid starvation. This overwhelming fear of famine made most farmers very conservative and very skeptical of change. Bad harvests would reduce the supply of food, leading to higher prices. The fundamental effect of supply and demand was at the center of most class conflict in this pre-industrial world. Poor harvests and population growth affected the price of food. Unaffordable prices increased the wealth of the aristocratic class and led to death and starvation among the peasants; therefore, the main reason behind most peasant uprisings was the high price of food. As the population grew, the Industrial Revolution helped shift the population. Technological and scientific developments caused industry to move to different locations and so the English population gathered in larger and larger urban centers, to work in factories and other places of mass work. London's population doubled in the fifty years from 1801 to 1851, and towns across the country grew as well. Conditions in these areas were often poor because the expansion happened so quickly and people were crowded together, with cramped living spaces, dirt, and disease, but not enough. The industrial revolution also accelerated the growth of the urban population. One of the most significant consequences of urbanization has been a rapid increase in crime. This was the result of three factors that dominated the urban landscape. The first two were poverty and unemployment. There was no job security, no social security, no minimum wage for factory workers. If someone was injured on the job or laid off, they had little chance of replacing their lost income. New Social Classes The middle class was made up of businessmen and other professionals. The more the industrial revolution grew, the more powerful these individuals became. Individuals and groups established new libraries, schools, and universities because there was a sudden need for education (perhaps due to the increase.