Britain was the center of the industrial revolution for several reasons: 1) Its naval power and success in wars allowed it to build an extensive colonial empire and trade network. 2) Cotton was an industry well-suited for industrialization, attracting investment, and Britain's colonies provided cheap raw cotton through slave labor. 3) Britain had an economic structure of colonialism that enabled it to take advantage of industries like cotton for profit.

1. Globalization and Culture
Capitalism & Colonialism II
Week 4
February 11, 2015

2. Chapter 4
What do we mean by the term industrial
revolution?

3. Chapter 4
Why was Britain the center of industrialization?

4. Chapter 4
Why was Britain the center of industrialization?
● Naval power and war
● An industry suited to industrializing = cotton
● Economic structure that allowed for it to take
advantage of that industry = colonialism

5. Britain: Slavery and Cotton
● Cotton industry - there was money to be made
and it was rapidly expanding, so it attracted
investment
●
● Machinery was cheap, easy to construct, and
promised quick returns
●
● Raw materials - extracted from colonies
through slave labor, thus expanding supply;
accident of coal supply and steam power

6. Thomas Jefferson and Slavery
How has US history tended to
depict Jefferson’s relationship to
slavery?

8. Thomas Jefferson and Slavery
How did that version of the “paradox” of
Jefferson and slavery come to be?
Why do you think this happened?

9. Thomas Jefferson and Slavery
Wiencek’s article suggests several innovations
introduced by Jefferson that impacted the
development of slavery and capitalism.

10. Thomas Jefferson and Slavery
Wiencek’s article suggests several innovations
introduced by Jefferson that impacted the
development of slavery and capitalism.
● Industrialization and diversification/division
of slave labor
● Recognition of the reproduction of enslaved
populations as generating value
● Monetization - use of slaves as collateral

11. George Mason and Slavery

12. George Mason and Slavery
● Owned at least 300
slaves
● Did not free any
slaves in his will
● Co-authored the
Second Amendment
to protect the rights of
southern militias to
hunt escaped slaves

13. Slavery and Globalization
Why are we talking about 18th century slavery
in a class on globalization?

14. Ta-Nehesi Coates: Reparations
How does this essay by Coates connect to the
other readings for this week?
What do you think about the argument he is
making about reparations?
How does the issue of reparations connect to
the issues of debt we touched on last week in
our conversation?

15. Karl Marx,
1818-1883