The Industrial Revolution

Sweden

Background: 1700s

0Age of Liberty; more democratic Sweden0Age of Enlightenment; scientific advances0Long period of peace0More effective agriculture (potato)0Fishing industry (herring, salt, fish-oil)0 Ironworks0Manufactures (factories without machines)0Swedish East India Company

Growing population

Industrialisation begins…

0Much later in Sweden than Britain0Similar proto-industries (textile)0Competition from Britain affected Sweden’s ironworks

Industrialisation proper…

01850s: Sawmilling industry in Norrland Export of timber to Britain

01850s: Building of railroads 01870s: Engineering industries Specialisation (LM Ericsson, Bofors)

Consequences…0Britain used up all their iron and coal for the

industrialisation process0Sweden was more rich in natural resources0Polarisation of society

Emergence of very rich people Working classLand-owning farmers Farm workers

0Large number of emigration to USA

Liberal Movement

0Chydenius World’s first law on freedom of press01809 constitution0Liberal party (Folkpartiet) formed in 18950Several liberal groups in parliament joined in 1900

(Liberala samlingspartiet)

Labour Movement

0Working class: bad living- and working conditions

Demands: Minimum wageRegulated working

hoursSocial security

system

0Labour Unions (fackföreningar)0Labour Party (SAP; Socialdemokratiska

arbetarpartiet) formed in 1889

Feminist Movement

0 In parallel to Labour movement women’s issues became important

Demands: Right to education

Right to work

Personal rights

(myndigförlaring)

0 Right to vote – 1921!

0