5.4 The Second Agricultural Revolution

What Was the Second Agricultural Revolution?

Why is the Second Agricultural Revolution Important?

Advancements

1. Enclosure Movement: This was a process by which traditional common lands were enclosed and consolidated into larger, privately-owned farms. This allowed for more efficient farming practices and increased production.
2. Selective Breeding: Farmers began to selectively breed animals in order to produce offspring with desired traits. This resulted in the development of new breeds of animals that were more productive and efficient.
3. New Crops: The introduction of new crops, such as turnips and clover, allowed farmers to rotate their crops and improve the fertility of their soil.
4. Improved Tools: The development of new tools and machinery, such as the threshing machine and the plow, made it easier and more efficient for farmers to work the land.

• New technology 
• Technologies provided by the Industrial Revolution increased production and distribution 
• Increase in food production 
• Fields doubled or tripled 
• Use of advanced, more efficient technologies 

Impacts

1. Increased Food Production: One of the most significant impacts of the Agricultural Revolution was the dramatic increase in food production. This allowed Britain to feed its rapidly growing population and become a major food producer.
2. Economic Growth: The Agricultural Revolution contributed to the growth of the British economy, as increased food production led to higher profits for farmers and related industries.
3. Rural-Urban Migration: The Agricultural Revolution also contributed to the growth of cities as people migrated from rural areas to urban centers in search of work. This led to the development of new industries and contributed to the Industrial Revolution.
4. Social Changes: The Agricultural Revolution brought about significant changes in the social structure of Britain, as traditional rural communities were transformed and new forms of property ownership emerged.

• Healthier, more nutritious diets 
• Longer life expectancies 
• Increased productivity-> increased population 
• More people moved to cities (because of increased efficiency) 
• Emergence of urban industrial centers 

Key Questions

• A growing population: The population of Britain increased dramatically during the 18th and 19th centuries, creating a need for more food.
• Urbanization: As more people moved to cities, there was an increasing demand for food from urban markets.
• Industrialization: The Industrial Revolution created a need for more food to feed the growing number of factory workers.
• Trade: Britain was becoming a major trading nation, and agricultural exports were an important part of this trade.

1. Increased food production: The Agricultural Revolution led to significant increases in food production, which helped to feed the growing population.
2. Economic growth: The Agricultural Revolution contributed to economic growth in Britain by increasing the efficiency of food production and leading to the development of new industries.
3. Improved living standards: The increased productivity and efficiency of agriculture during the Agricultural Revolution led to improvements in living standards for many people in Britain.

• Environmental degradation: The Agricultural Revolution involved the widespread adoption of new farming techniques, such as the enclosure of common land and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which had negative impacts on the environment.
• Displacement of small-scale farmers: Many small-scale farmers were displaced as a result of the Agricultural Revolution, as they were unable to compete with the larger, more efficient farms that emerged.
• Decreased biodiversity: The Agricultural Revolution led to the widespread cultivation of a few high-yield crop varieties, which reduced biodiversity in the agricultural landscape.
• Poor working conditions: Many farm workers during the Agricultural Revolution worked long hours in poor conditions for low pay.

1. Technological advances: Many of the technological advances that were developed during the Agricultural Revolution, such as mechanization, are still in use today.
2. Specialization: The Agricultural Revolution led to the specialization of agriculture, with different regions of the country focusing on different crops or livestock. This specialization has continued to the present day.
3. Intensive farming: The Agricultural Revolution also led to the development of intensive farming practices, such as the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are still in use today.
4. Agricultural policy: The Agricultural Revolution had a significant impact on the development of agricultural policy in Britain, and many of the policies put in place during this time, such as subsidies for farmers, are still in effect today.
5. Global trade: The Agricultural Revolution contributed to the development of global trade in agricultural products, and this trend has continued to the present day.

Overall Summary

• The British Agricultural Revolution was a period of rapid agricultural development in Britain between the 16th and early 19th centuries.
• It saw the transformation of small-scale farming into large-scale, commercial agriculture. This was made possible by a number of factors, including:
• The use of new technologies such as the seed drill, which made it possible to sow seeds more efficiently, and the threshing machine, which made it easier to separate grain from the chaff.
• The enclosure movement, which saw the consolidation of small, scattered plots of land into larger, more efficient farms.
• The development of new crops, such as potatoes and turnips, which were more resistant to pests and diseases and required less labor to cultivate.
• The growth of urban markets, which created a demand for foodstuffs that could be produced on a large scale.
• The British Agricultural Revolution had a profound impact on British society and the economy, leading to a dramatic increase in food production and a decline in rural poverty. It also had a significant impact on the global economy, as Britain became a major exporter of agricultural products.