Urbanization

One of the most obvious changes to people’s lives was that more people moved into the urban areas where factories were located. Many of the agricultural labourers were forced to move. Beginning in the early 18th century, more people in rural areas were competing for fewer jobs. Moreover, there were demographic factors as well since the rural population had risen sharply.

During this period new manufacturing towns and cities grew dramatically. Many of these cities were close to the coalfields that supplied fuel to the factories. The names of British factory cities soon became coterminous with the process of industrialization. Within a span of few decades factory centres such as Manchester grew into cities of hundred thousand.

Environment

This was also combined with environmental degradation. Industrialization has brought factory pollutants and greater land use, which have harmed the natural environment. In particular, the application of machinery and science to agriculture has led to greater land use and, therefore, extensive loss of habitat for animals and plants. In addition, drastic population growth following industrialization has contributed to the decline of natural habitats and resources. These factors, in turn, have caused many species to become extinct or endangered.