Why does the second agricultural revolution matter?
The second agricultural revolution was very important to the development of humanity. The 2nd agricultural revolution brought England, and humans in general, out of stage 1 of demographic transition and into stage 2. The natural increase rate increases as food production becomes more stable. There were less deaths and the life expectancy became longer. Population rapidly increases and cities started to grow. The farm hands replaced with machines went to the cities and to work factories. Cities were growing rapidly as people from former villages migrated in to them. Giant cities that came as part of the industrial revolution wouldn't be possible if no one was feeding the people inside the city. The agricultural revolution would help further fuel the industrial revolution. Consumers were better fed and had more disposable income for other products. The English economy was booming because of the 2nd agricultural revolution, and allowed Britain to become the biggest imperial super power the world has seen. With the population growth in cities, it was easier to get people to colonize other British controlled areas such as Australia. When the agricultural revolution spread it helped create modern MDC's. Places and cities started to industrialize and develop. The MDC's of the early 19th century all owe their sucsess to the 2nd agricultural revolution.
That's great! Now What are the Drawbacks?
- Poor tenant farmers lost their land and had to move in to the cities.
- Machines replaced humans causing unemployment of farm hands and workers.
- People stopped producing their own food and instead started relying on others to produce it for them
- More food equaled more people at the time causing cities to rapidly expand and experience overpopulation problems
- Major derogation of the environment starts to happen as the economy moves from sustainable farming to manufacturing and other pollution causing industries.