Anyone who knows anything about the industrial revolution in the US, what was life like in the late 1890s to 1900s, at both ends of the spectrum, rich, poor, in between? What isn't taught in History class that you need to know in order to effectively write in that setting? How did the men dress? The women? Kids? What kind of technology was there?
A year and setting would be far more useful. The world "revolution" implies a time of rapid change, so it'd be very different at the beginning and end of it. The term also can mean multiple times in history. The first was in the mid 1700s to the 1840s, where we learned to use machines to create other machines. We also learned how to use iron and steam efficiently. The country was still largely agrarian. The second happened after in the late 1800s where machines meant we needed less farmers so people flocked to factories where we learned how to mass produce things.
Don't like breathing in poison, you're fired. Can't push that huge wagon of coal, you're fired. Want a union, you're fired. Want another job, don't expect a fair salary unless you got contacts and a fancy degree. Maybe the industrial revolution never really ended because most of that still applies.
This is one of those things where doing a Google search, then narrowing down your questions from there will help you greatly. Your topic, and the questions are too vague and large, and you're asking us to do too much of your research for you. Google, see what speaks to you, and go from there. There are vast numbers of books on the subject.
IIRC the real beginning of the Industrial Revolution was after the Black Death hit Europe in the late 17th century. So many died that developing machines became a necessity. More here.
I'm thinking late 1890s to early 1900s time range, sorry for being non-specific. Thought I'd put that in, apparently not. Not claiming innocence, just typing errors Apologies if that's what it seems like. I'm researching as well, but I realized that I'm likely to miss something or someone else will have some insight I don't have. I never expected the research to be done for me, though technically it has, since someone else found the information, I just have to organize it. It may sound insulting but I never really expected to learn much from an online forum.
While researching keep in mind that human work has material value and that value is based upon scarcity (or the lack of it) in relation to the work required to produce something.
Your subject is actually a lot more complicated than it appears on the surface, @DarkPen14 . I know, because my story (stories) is set in 1885-86-87, with a prologue that goes back to 1873. It's tempting to focus only on a particular area of the country, but the country was changing SO fast that it's dodgy to assume anything at all. Even little things like train travel. Not only were new rail lines opening up all the time, but the design of the rail cars changed frequently. For example, I discovered that the cars my characters would be traveling in, heading east from Montana, wouldn't have vestibules between the cars because the vestibule hadn't been invented yet. Easy to make these kinds of mistakes. If you are setting your story in, say 1895 into the turn of the century, you are in luck. Cheap reprints of mail-order catalogues from Montgomery Ward, Sears, and Bloomingdales, etc are available from Dover Publications. These are invaluable, because they show WHAT was available to buy and how much it cost. These are treasure troves, if you're writing from the perspective of people who lived then. On my bookshelves just now I have THREE books on how horses were used in the 19th century. Not books on 'horse lore' but simply about how they were cared for in urban and rural settings, and the problems people had using horses ...for example, in cities. Where were they kept in places like New York, Boston, etc? How were they fed and watered in a city? These are all things that you can't handwave away, if you want to paint an accurate picture of life 'back then.' You'll need to be specific about exactly when and where you're setting your story, and what kinds of people will become your characters. I don't mean their personalities, but rather where they came from, what kind of work they did, what their schooling was like, what their social position was, etc. Then research the hell out of all those things. And read several histories of the whole era as well. Histories can be quite lively to read, if you get the right ones. The good thing about intense research is it gives you ideas. LOTS of ideas. I think sometimes people think research restricts you ...and to some extent it does ...but it certainly gives as well as takes away. https://www.amazon.com/19th+Century+history+USA You could do worse than also browse the Dover Publications catalogue. They specialise in reprints of old books, like catalogues, etc. Those are primary sources of information that are unbeatable. And the good thing is, they are inexpensive books. And most of their books are available from Amazon as well ...sometimes at even more of a discount. https://store.doverpublications.com/
Here's a photo of those catalogues I mentioned, as listed on Amazon.com. I get the feeling they won't be available forever. I'd grab a used copy now, if I were you. They really are a resource you'll use a lot. I'd get both the Wards AND the Sears.
The four decades I've lived are hard enough to capture in minute detail. The thought of trying to do that for a completely different era. ..Where'd I put that Advil? What you mentioned about horses is fascinating. I've owned horses and their care is no small matter. I can't imagine caring for one in my middle of NYC. I know it happened but that's not something I'd want to attempt. Hat's off! ETA: My daughter's best friend lives and works in Manhattan. She told me recently that rats have taken over the subway system. She saw one several months ago that was as large as our old housecat. IIRC rats were a major issue in NYC in the 18th and 19th centuries. I imagine dealing with that is one of those historical details that is either overlooked or handwaved.
If you're interested, here's the book I reall like best that's specifically about this topic. It's a real eye-opener, and fills a research niche very well indeed. The Horse In the City: Living Machines in the Nineteenth Century by Clay McShane and Joel A Tarr John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore www.press.jhu.edu
Oooooo, that's going on the "gotta get soon" list. I can even justify it to hubby (he works in civil engineering) with, "but honey, it's about civil engineering."
I hope you don't mind, but I deleted that link from the quote ...which was a link to my own Amazon page! I didn't mean to do that, and quickly deleted it from my post, but you got there too fast for me. However, I've provided a link to the publishing house instead, and you can of course search for it on Amazon.
No problem at all and thanks! I enjoy learning new stuff about topics that interest me and horses are definitely in the top ten of that particular list. ETA: I also enjoy reading engaging nonfiction and this appears to be one of those.
I get caught out when folks respond quickly. I'm slow....I also just included a photo of the book and part of the blurb. It's getting expensive to buy new, which makes me think it's no longer in print (why?!!!) but there are some good re-sale offers.
I saw that. Nothing wrong with a used book. If you're interested in horses I have a book around here somewhere that documents the first interactions of humans and equines using archaeology and ancient manuscripts. If you'd like I'll go hunt it down.
I've still got lots of books on horses at the moment ...but in fact some of them went out with our huge book clearout we had last year ...22 boxes of books (10 kilos each) went to BetterWorld Books. I was just doing research for my novel, and I got more or less what I wanted. I kept the keepers and got rid of the others. My husband and I are very close to 'hoarders' when it comes to books. Our mutual dream would be to own a mansion with a LIBRARY. Then we'd never have to get rid of books again. But thanks anyway!
I have a cyber-friend who worked as a rare book dealer. He's in his 80s now and has over 30,000 books between a very large house and two humongous climate controlled storage units. He's trying to decide which to sell so his wife will have additional cushioning when he passes. Not sure if that's imminent, he didn't say and I didn't ask, but the idea of 30,000 books blows my mind.
