BEFORE YOU WATCH: Railroads and the Industrial Revolution – Crash Course World History #214

Use the "Three Close Reads" approach as you watch the video below.

Before you watch

Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video transcript. And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch.

While you watch

How did railroads lead people to experience the Industrial Revolution? How was this different across different classes?
How did railroads change the physical environment? How did they change how people experienced time and space?
In what ways was travel by horse seen as superior to railroad travel, by some people?
What are some ways in which railroad travel impacted human interaction?
How did people’s attitudes toward railroads change over time?
In what ways is the Internet similar to the railroad?

After you watch

To what extent does this article explain how technology shaped economic production over time?
John Green argues that railroads were a technological revolution that changed everything from economic systems to governance to social and cultural organization and interactions. Could something similar be said about other elements of the Industrial Revolution, like factories or industrial cities? Make an argument for one of these, or another element.
How can evidence from this video help you to respond to a question that asks what changes resulted from the Industrial Revolution?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch. Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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