Industrial revolution (1)

Industrial RevolutionStudents at Astor CollegeDover, England, Great Britain

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period in time which the world and the way we live went through a lot of changes very quickly. Some of the changes included…

Economic changes

Technological changes

Social changes

Cultural changes

Before the Industrial Revolution

Most people resided in small, rural communities.

Daily lives revolved around farming.

Life for the average person was difficult.

Family income was small.

Many people were malnourished.

Disease was common.

People produced the bulk of their own food, clothing, furniture and tools.

Manufacturing was done in homes or small, rural shops, using hand tools or simple machines.

Why did it start in Britain?

Britain’s Coal

Britain had a large quantity of coal which was found to be an effective form of power.

Britain’s coal could be mined easily.

The coal mines were also close to the sea which allowed the it to be easily shipped to other European countries.

Britain’s IronBritain also had large quantities of iron.

Englishman Abraham Darby discovered a cheaper, easier method to produce cast iron.

Iron was an essential material, used to make everything from appliances, tools and machines, to ships, buildings and infrastructure.

Britain’s Intellectual Climate

Britain allowed its scientists, inventors and free thinkers to work, discuss and debate openly without the threat of the church or state.

This provided the atmosphere for a cascade of scientific breakthroughs.

However, this was not the case across Europe where people were censored by their church and state.

Britain’s Colonies

Britain was a politically stable society, as well as the world’s leading colonial power

Colonies could serve as a source for raw materials.

The were also a marketplace for manufactured goods.

How did the Industrial Revolution change Britain, Europe and THE WORLD!

TransportationTransportation improved because of the developments in steam and coal.

American Robert Fulton built the first commercially successful steamboat.

British engineer Richard Trevithick built the first railway steam locomotive.

British engineer John McAdam developed a new process for road construction which made roads easier to travel on.

Textiles Industry

Machines were created that could turn out huge quantities of fabric.

Englishman James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny (“engine”)

The power loom was developed in the 1780s by English inventor Edmund Cartwright.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution

The factories created more jobs.

The scientific advancements resulted in better health.

Children weren’t needed in the family business as often which made time for education.

Capitalism allowed people to move social classes and helped to create a middle class.

The spread of Industrialism

The British wanted to prevent their technology and skilled workers from leaving Britain.

However, Industrialization spread from Britain to other European countries, including Belgium, France and Germany, and to the United States.

By the mid-19th century, industrialization was well-established throughout the western part of Europe and America’s northeastern region.