The advent of industrialization in the early 19th century had a far-reaching impact on economics, politics, society, and demography. The transition from an agrarian and feudal system of production to an industrial and capitalist system brought many changes to the lives of Europeans. Some of these changes include gender issues, immigration, medicine, the rise of liberal and socialist politics, and the rise of some famous political movements. In the following essay I will delve into some of the many ramifications that industrialization has brought about. Before the advent of industrialization, much of Europe's production was focused on agriculture for practical reasons. A nation must produce enough food to feed its citizens. Skilled labor was organized around guilds and the apprenticeship system. The rise of industrialization changed these fundamental systems. The development of steam power and the introduction of the factory into European society had far-reaching consequences. The first was an increase in population in urban communities. With the development and implementation of the factory, a new demand for labor was created. Instead of working as a farm laborer or other unskilled job, many individuals found a new source of employment as a factory worker. The increase in population in the urban centers of Europe created a series of social problems. Among these problems was the creation of new social castes in European society. During this period we witness the emergence of new social classes, the working class and the middle class. The working class consisted of the lowest-skilled factory and day laborers, while the middle class included lawyers, doctors, merchants, and entrepreneurs. I use the phrase "working professional... middle of paper... engines were created, this technology allowed the major European powers to create large armies, fleets and weapons depots. Once a nation began to accumulate munitions and create a large standing army, other nations in the region would follow suit. This snowball effect would then continue, as one country would develop a fleet of huge battleships, another country would seek to eclipse it. We then see that the progress made by industrialization has also a role in creating tensions, fueling the arms race preceding World War I. The effects of industrialization were far-reaching and permeated almost every aspect of the lives of Europeans in the nineteenth century economy and lifestyle; the myriad effects on life that industrialization has had are remembered in history books and are the reason why we study them today.