Industrial Revolution Overview

The Industrial Revolution

• Began in Britain during the 18th century, marked by a significant increase in production.
• Started with an agricultural revolution, where large landowners enclosed common land, displacing small farmers, who moved to cities.
• New farm methods, like Jethro Tull's seed drill, increased farm output, improving diets and population growth.
• Fewer farmers were needed, leading to a workforce shift towards factory work.
• Britain's industrialization was facilitated by abundant natural resources (coal, water, iron ore, rivers, harbors, and banks).
• Britain had the necessary factors of production (land, labor, and capital) for industrialization.

Textile Industry Innovations

• The cottage industry was slow; inventors developed tools like the spinning jenny and water-powered loom to accelerate cloth production.
• Manufacturers built large factories near rivers for water power to house and operate large machines.
• Innovations like Richard Arkwright's water frame, Samuel Crompton's spinning mule, and Edmund Cartwright's power loom sped up cloth production.

Transportation Improvements

• The steam engine, invented in 1705, provided a new power source, used in factories and later transportation.
• Robert Fulton's steam-driven boat allowed faster transport of goods along rivers and canals.
• George Stephenson's steam-driven locomotive ushered in the railroad era starting in the 1820s, which greatly improved transportation across Britain.

Overall Impact

• The Industrial Revolution led to industrial growth, job creation in various industries, and easier nationwide travel.
• Businesses used new inventions for higher productivity and efficiency.