HISTORY 21B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Seymour Drescher, Stanley Engerman, Industrial Revolution
Document Summary
How did slavery contribute to the industrial revolution. Generating profits to underwrite the capital stock of the early industrial economy. Providing cheap raw materials for growing industries (or cheaper food and drink for the workers in those industries) Exotic goods in the context of 17th and much of the 18th century europe. Insisted slave trade was only a minor contributor to british industrialization. Only had an effect due to prior and independent conditions that favored industrialization. Many other industries and sectors expanded in this period. Cuba major sugar producer in 19th century. Blackburn: evidence does not lead to the conclusion that new world slavery produced capitalism. What it does show is that exchanges with the slave plantations helped british capitalism to make a breakthrough to industrialism and global hegemony ahead of its rivals . Was slavery a major contributor or the major contributor to british industrialization.