Second Industrial Revolution

The second industrial revolution, a second phase of industrialization after the First Industrial Revolution is referred to in the economic history research. The chronology and the concept definition itself is not uniform. Essentially can be a German and Anglo-American variant differ. The French-and German -language research is the second industrial revolution around since the 1870s and 1880s with the rise of new leadership in particular sectors of the chemical industry and electrical engineering. So this falls into the phase of industrialization in Germany. The Anglo-American variant, however, emphasizes the transition to mass production and new forms of industrial organization ( Fordism, Taylorism ), especially since the 1920s.

Conceptual history

Was first formulated the concept of the second industrial revolution by Georges Friedmann in 1936. For him, the use of electricity was the key innovation. Later this view was further differentiated. Given the economic and scientific development George Friedman has spoken in the 1960s, characterized by a third industrial revolution of automation and the use of nuclear energy.

Concept in the German economic history

The new industries based on the combination of research and industrial production. It was used in particular chemical and physical findings on a large scale economically. In addition to the universities, the company talked own research and development facilities. Thus, the knowledge and experience of employees lost in the production of meaning.

With the rapid growth they solved textile industry and mining industry from the leading sectors. In contrast to the first industrial revolution, the German economy was leading. Had they used techniques and skills must be especially imported from England, they now became the technology exporter. Among the new research and knowledge- oriented industries included not only the chemical industry and the electrical and mechanical engineering and optical industry. Especially in the pharmaceutical industry created great dedication to research laboratories. Similarly, the development in the electrical industry was. Werner von Siemens, even engineers and physicists, built for his company since the 1860s, a laboratory, which developed into a large in-house research facility. Important was also next to the contact of the economy to universities and non-university research institutions such founded in 1887 Physico- Technical Institute.

In the chemical industry won soda and sulfuric acid as the basis of new products such as the synthetic dye aniline important.

In addition to the previously dominant energy source coal oil played a growing role. It was used for the propulsion of internal combustion engines (gasoline engine, diesel engine).

Furthermore, the electricity was used on a larger scale (generator (from 1866), bulb, electric motor, etc.). Through the use of electricity, communication will also improved significantly. In addition to the older Telegraphy (from about 1840) about 1880 came from the phone.

Anglo-American tradition

In parts of the German research the innovative advances of 1920/1930er years be regarded as the beginning of a third industrial revolution. This was characterized by the rationalization of production through the introduction of the assembly line (1913, Ford -Werke ).

Especially in the Anglo-American research, the breakthrough to mass production and scientific management of Taylorism / Fordism, however, is only referred to as the Second Industrial Revolution. Background for the differences is, among other things, that for the U.S. the First World War not as crucial economic incision was like in Europe. In the U.S., put the rest, the mass production of steel and railway construction on a larger scale later than in Europe, while the mass consumption significantly more likely began.

Other uses of the term

In various older sources, the phase of the second Industrial Revolution was applied since about 1950. Its basis is the rationalization of industrial production through automation. An advanced form of automation is the introduction of industrial robots ( from 1970).

Criticism

The term of the second industrial revolution is controversial. To emphasize critics of this concept that the importance of inventions and the economic use of scientific knowledge ignores the fact that this aspect was not unknown even before then. The derivation of the term of the use of new materials such as light metal, plastic, petroleum or other was not without criticism. Also in the first industrial revolution, there were basically synthetic products. Coal was converted to coke and pig iron produced from steel. It is also true for the critics that the heavy industry since the 1870s, its leading function of the electrical industry, the chemical industry, optical industry and the automobile industry as "new industries" gave.