The Industrial Revolution outside Great Britain

Prussia / Germany Challenged British Industrial Production Levels

Dec 15, 2008

Great Britain that took an early lead in the process of industrialisation. The early success of the industrial revolution promoted economic and industrial change abroad.

Belgium Attempts To Catch Up First

Believe it or not the country that took the earliest strides in spreading the Industrial Revolution outside of Great Britain was actually Belgium. Despite only being a small country with limited natural resources Belgium soon developed the heavy industries most associated with the industrial revolution. Cities such as Charleroi, Liege, and Mons soon became centres of heavy industry. After Great Britain, Belgium was the first country on continental Europe to build a national railway network.

Prussia / Germany Challenges British Industrial Production Levels

Prussia was another country that decided to develop its industries and it would be one of the most successful states that actively promoted the Industrial Revolution outside of Great Britain. Unlike Great Britain and Belgium the Prussian government actively supported economic policies that promoted rapid industrialisation through state investment and the use of tariff protection. The economic development and industrialisation policies of the Prussian government were very successful, making Prussia one of the wealthiest countries in the world and assisting in its wars against Denmark, Austria, and France.

After victory in the Franco-Prussian War a united Germany dominated by Prussia was created. The new Germany continued with its industrial modernisation and development. By 1900 Germany was more productive than Great Britain was. Germany was a great military power, was getting richer, and its government decided that it wanted to build a navy, which could match the might of the Royal Navy.

The United States Joins In

Outside of Europe the country that would eventually industrialise most successfully was the United States. Unlike Prussia / Germany the industrial revolution in the United States was mainly brought about by the private sector rather than economic policies of the American government.

Japan was also a country that was affected by the industrial revolution, like Prussia / Germany it's government was keen to promote industrial and economic development. The Japanese government promoted industrialisation in order to increase the military and naval strength of the country rather than as a means of generating wealth. From a low level of economic development Japan soon became highly industrialised.

Churchill W S (1957) A History of the English Speaking Peoples 3 – The Age of Revolution, Cassell, London

Ferguson N, (2003) Empire – how Britain made the modern world, Penguin, London

Hobsbawm E, (1962) the Age of Revolution 1789-1848, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London

The copyright of the article The Industrial Revolution outside Great Britain in W European History is owned by Barry Vale. Permission to republish The Industrial Revolution outside Great Britain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.