What’s the building behind me? What does it do? How does it get the energy to do that?

The Industrial Revolution

The Agricultural Revolution Hedgerows grown around farms reduced erosion. Crop rotation prevented soil depletion. New machines like the seed drill, Rotherham plough, and mechanical thresher allowed fewer men to do the same amount of work. Selective breeding increased livestock production. In 1700, one farmer could grow enough food to feed 1.7 people, by 1800 the same farmer could feed 2.5 people.

Factors of Production What are the factors production required for industry? Land, labor, capital Great Britain possessed ample land resources—mines, rivers, forests, cities. The Agricultural Revolution provided surplus labor (more people who didn’t have to be farmers). The long term political stability that followed Glorious Revolution allowed the upper classes to accumulate large amounts of money and made them willing to risk it in investments.

Textile Mills What do people need? Food, shelter, clothing. The growing population of Britain (and the world) needed clothes. In the 18 th century, Britons invented several things that sped the production of cloth: the flying shuttle, the spinning jenny, and the water frame. These machines made producing clothing easier and faster, but they were expensive and needed to be located along rivers. The richest weavers built buildings to house the machine and brought all their workers together in these new factories.

Steam Power In the early 18 th century, engineers began trying to use steam to do work. Initially steam engines were used to pump water from mines or as a way to supply water for a waterwheel located away from a river. In 1763, James Watt began working on a steam engine that could produce a circular motion, enabling it to power mills directly.

Critical Mass Each new invention would lead to others. Britain and later America and the rest of Europe developed more and more technology. Steam engines soon allowed trains and steam ships. Goods could be moved faster than ever before.