Glossary
Economic Growth
The expansion of wealth and prosperity driven by more profitable farming practices and the development of related industries during the Second Agricultural Revolution.
Example:
The profitability of large-scale farming contributed to significant economic growth, allowing for investments in other sectors like manufacturing.
Enclosure Movement
The process in Britain where common lands were consolidated into privately owned, larger, and more efficient farms, often fenced off from public access.
Example:
The Enclosure Movement meant that many small farmers lost access to shared grazing lands, forcing them to seek work in burgeoning cities.
Green Revolution
A distinct period in the mid-20th century characterized by the development of high-yielding crop varieties and new agricultural technologies, often confused with the Second Agricultural Revolution.
Example:
While both boosted food production, the Green Revolution focused on genetically modified crops and chemical fertilizers in the 20th century, unlike the earlier revolution's focus on mechanization and land consolidation.
Improved Tools
Technological innovations such as the seed drill and threshing machine that significantly increased the speed and efficiency of planting and harvesting during the Second Agricultural Revolution.
Example:
The invention of the seed drill, one of many improved tools, revolutionized planting by ensuring seeds were sown at optimal depths and spacing, leading to better crop growth.
Increased Food Production
A major outcome of the Second Agricultural Revolution, resulting from new techniques and tools that led to a significant surplus of food.
Example:
Thanks to increased food production, populations grew rapidly, and fewer people faced starvation, fundamentally changing societal demographics.
Industrial Revolution
A period of major industrialization and technological innovation that was significantly fueled by the surplus food and labor provided by the Second Agricultural Revolution.
Example:
The Industrial Revolution could not have occurred without the preceding agricultural changes that freed up labor and provided a stable food supply for urban workers.
Intensive Farming
A modern agricultural system characterized by high inputs of capital, labor, or technology per unit of land to maximize yields, with roots in the Second Agricultural Revolution's focus on efficiency.
Example:
Many contemporary practices, such as using fertilizers and pesticides to maximize output from a small area, are examples of intensive farming that trace back to the revolution's principles.
New Crops
The introduction and widespread cultivation of crops like turnips and clover during the Second Agricultural Revolution, which improved soil fertility and provided animal fodder.
Example:
The adoption of new crops like turnips allowed farmers to rotate their fields more effectively, preventing soil depletion and increasing overall yields.
Rural-Urban Migration
The movement of people from agricultural areas to cities, primarily driven by the displacement of small farmers and the demand for labor in emerging industrial centers.
Example:
The efficiency gains in agriculture led to widespread rural-urban migration, as displaced farmworkers sought employment in the factories of growing cities.
Second Agricultural Revolution
A period of significant agricultural advancements in Britain from the 16th to early 19th centuries, characterized by increased efficiency and output in farming practices.
Example:
The Second Agricultural Revolution transformed farming from small, localized efforts into a more organized, large-scale industry, paving the way for modern agriculture.
Selective Breeding
A method used by farmers to improve livestock by choosing animals with desirable traits to reproduce, leading to more productive and robust animals.
Example:
Through selective breeding, farmers could develop sheep that produced more wool or cattle that yielded more milk, significantly boosting agricultural output.
Urbanization
The process of population shift from rural areas to urban centers, leading to the growth of cities and the development of urban industrial hubs.
Example:
The urbanization of Britain was a direct consequence of agricultural advancements, as people moved to cities in search of factory work.