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Industrial Revolution Key Points

The Industrial Revolution originated in Great Britain due to factors like the Agricultural Revolution, access to natural resources, and a strong market. Key innovations in textile production and the rise of factories transformed labor and production methods, while coal and railroads facilitated economic growth. The social impact included urbanization, the emergence of new social classes, and labor reforms, with industrialization spreading across Europe and the United States.

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Industrial Revolution Key Points

The Industrial Revolution originated in Great Britain due to factors like the Agricultural Revolution, access to natural resources, and a strong market. Key innovations in textile production and the rise of factories transformed labor and production methods, while coal and railroads facilitated economic growth. The social impact included urbanization, the emergence of new social classes, and labor reforms, with industrialization spreading across Europe and the United States.

Uploaded by

the black ninja11
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Industrial Revolution: Key Points

Origins in Great Britain

- Agricultural Revolution boosted food production: better farming methods, new crops like
potatoes, and enclosure movement (fenced off common land), leading to surplus labor.

- Capital and Entrepreneurship: Britain had the money and entrepreneurial spirit to invest
in machinery and factories.

- Access to Natural Resources: Abundant coal, iron ore, and rivers for waterpower and
transport.

- Markets and Trade: Vast colonial empire and shipping capacity, plus a growing domestic
population.

Innovations in Textile Production

1.Cottage Industry: Early textile production done at home.

2. New machines:

- Spinning Jenny (1764): Sped up thread spinning.

- Power Loom (1787): Improved weaving efficiency.

3. Steam Engine (improved by James Watt in the 1760s): Used coal, allowing factories to
move away from rivers.

Rise of Factories

- Focused on **constant production**: Workers ran machines in shifts.

- Migrants from rural areas needed discipline for regular hours and repetitive tasks.

- Penalties for lateness or misconduct were common.

Coal, Iron, and Railroads

- **Coal** fueled steam engines and was plentiful.


- Henry Cort’s puddling process produced higher-quality iron (“pig iron” refined by coke).

- Railroads revolutionized transport:

- Richard Trevithick’s steam locomotive (1804).

- The Rocket (1830) linking Manchester to Liverpool at 16 mph.

- Lower transport costs → more goods → economic growth.

Spread of Industrialization

- Belgium, France, and German states industrialized with government support (railroads,
canals).

- In the United States:

- Rapid population growth and city expansion.

- Roads, canals, steamboats, and especially railroads (30,000 miles by 1860) united
markets.

- Farm workers (often women and girls) became cheap factory labor.

Social Impact

1. Population Growth & Urbanization

- Population doubled from 1750 to 1850.

- Decline in death rates and epidemics.

- People moved to cities (e.g., London soared to 2.5 million by 1850).

- Overcrowding and poor living conditions spurred calls for reform.

2. New Social Classes

- Industrial Middle Class: Factory owners, entrepreneurs with ambitions for profit.

- Industrial Working Class: Long hours (12–16/day), low wages, unsafe conditions (coal
mines, textile mills).

3. Child/Women Labor

- They formed a large part of the workforce, especially in textiles.


- The Factory Act of 1833 limited child labor and set minimum age standards.

- Women eventually made-up half of the labor force in textile factories but were paid less.

4. Socialist Ideas

- Reaction against harsh conditions: advocated for communal or government control of


key industries.

- Early “utopian socialists” like Robert Owen tried creating model communities.

Conclusion

- Britain led the Industrial Revolution—marked by unprecedented economic growth,


technological innovation, and social change.

- The factory system, powered by coal and steam, transformed production and labor
conditions.

- Industrialization migrated across Europe and the United States, reshaping economies and
societies worldwide.

Use these main points to guide your study of the Industrial Revolution’s causes,
developments, and far-reaching effects.

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