The Second Industrial Revolution more or less coincided with the lifespan of the German Empire. From 1871 to 1914, the new nation adopted a fairly democratic constitution, saw massive population growth, and experienced extraordinary economic development. Along the way, they created innovative new goods and services, as well as worker protections unseen anywhere else in the world. It was largely thanks to the leadership of the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. But after his fall from high politics, the empire redirected its gains toward militarization. And by 1918, that program would prove t ..read more

In this bonus episode, Dave interviews Dr. Joseph Sassoon about his book on the Sassoons, a major merchant trading family in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The comes out in paperback in the UK on Thursday, February 29th. This episode will be available for non-patrons until April 2024. Patreon supporters can access any bonus episode anytime. To become a patron, sign up at https://www.patreon.com/indrevpod ..read more

Dave interviews historian Anton Howes on his paper for Nesta, "Lessons from the age of coal", about the energy transition of the First Industrial Revolution and how it relates to our transition away from fossil fuels today. Read the paper here: https://www.nesta.org.uk/feature/what-the-history-of-energy-tells-us-about-the-age-of-renewables For more of Dr. Howes' work, see: https://www.ageofinvention.xyz This episode will be available for non-patrons until April 2024. Patreon supporters can access any bonus episode anytime. To become a patron, sign up at https://www.patreon.com/indrevpod ..read more

At the end of the 19th Century, workers throughout the world were fighting increasingly bitter, bloody battles against their capitalist bosses and the governments protecting them. In this episode, we will cover such topics as: Worker internationalism Paris Commune The Great Upheaval of 1877 The Haymarket Massacre The Homestead and Pullman strikes The Belgian General Strike of 1893 And more ..read more

During the late 19th Century, socialism fractured into numerous schools. In this episode, we explore the growing field of socialist thought, as well as its many colorful characters. Topics in this episode include: Edward Bellamy and his novel, Looking Backward French Solidarism Ferdinand Lassalle, Eduard Bernstein, and the German Social Democrats The Fabian Society Henry George and his treatise, Poverty and Progress Mikhail Bakunin and anarcho-collectivism Pyotr Kropotkin and anarcho-communism The Pittsburg Proclamation and anarcho-syndicalism Watch my 2022 Mill Talk here! https://industr ..read more

Beginning in the 1870s, the Neoclassical School of Economics emerged. Borrowing the idea of marginal analysis from calculus, and applying it to the ethical theory of Utilitarianism, they revolutionized the way economics was discussed. Today, we discuss the various “Marginalists” of this school, and the impact they had on the history of economic thought ..read more

Americans had long believed their country was a classless society. But by the end of the 19th Century, that myth had been shattered. In the Gilded Age, a super-rich elite emerged. They spent lavishly on houses, parties, and luxuries, while also investing in education and philanthropy. In this chapter, we’ll discuss this new upper-class, as well as how wealth in the United States became so imbalanced. We’ll explore topics like homesteading, Reconstruction, immigration, political corruption, corporate consolidation, and more ..read more

The live recording of my recent Mill Talk at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation ..read more

In the mid-19th Century, two new industrial developments were underway. In the UK and US, new discoveries were made for the refining of crude petroleum into numerous useful oils. Meanwhile, in France and Germany, engineers were starting to produce the first commercially viable internal combustion engines. Together, these two breakthroughs would open up a world of possibilities and, in time, put an end to the Steam Age. If you’re in the Boston area, be sure to catch Dave’s upcoming Mill Talk at the Chares River Museum of Industry and Innovation on Tuesday, November 15th! Register here: https ..read more

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