The Industrial Revolution R. Humphreys World History RPHS 2016-2017

In the mid-1700’s, an Industrial Revolution began in England that transformed the way work was done. Rather than making goods by hand, new machines mass produced products which lowered cost, increases profits, and changed the way people lived

By 1900, industrialization spread throughout Europe and to the United States transforming the Western Hemisphere into the dominant region of the world.

Life before change Before the industrial revolution most people worked and lived on small farming villages using outdate and inefficient farming methods.

cont. Many Farmers relied on the medieval and inefficient 3- field system. Not many experimented with other new techniques As a result, the food that was produced prevented the population of Europe from growing more rapidly.

Fences were used to protect large farms (enclosure movement) In the mid-1700’s new farm techniques were introduced and led to an Agricultural Revolution in Europe. Fences were used to protect large farms (enclosure movement) Scientific farming methods such as crop rotation maximized farmland usage and crop turnaround. New crops like corn and potatoes are introduced Newly created tools such as the iron plow and seed drill made farming more efficient and successful.

As a result of this agricultural revolution, more food was made and Europe’s population increased greatly. This large population included workers who would soon find work within factories.

Why England? The Industrial Revolution began in England for many reasons including: England’s rich and large deposits of natural resources such as iron and coal. A successful banking system that encouraged trade and invention, along with money to invest in industry. At the time, England’s colonies provided cheap raw materials and a market to sell industrial goods. From 1750 to 1850, England was the most industrialized nation in the world.

The First Market The population boom created a demand for clothing but traditional methods of textile making was extremely slow Therefore the fist industry to industrialize was the textile industry. New inventions were created such as the sewing machine among others.

The European demand for cotton led to a boom in the cotton production in the New World, which further encouraged slavery in the south. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin stimulated the demand for cotton, and also increased the amount of cotton readily available.

These new inventions that helped to improve the textile industry, led to the creation of the factory system. Power-driven machines were able to mass produce goods very fast and cost-efficiently. Factory owners made huge profits selling their produced goods.

The textile industry and rise of the factory system led to the growth of other industries such as locomotion and engine power. Factories needed power and were usually located near water.

Factories led for a demand in faster transportation. Roads and canals were built to accommodate this. Robert Fulton’s steamboat increased the speed of water travel. The greatest achievement to transportation was the steam-powered railroad.

The Industrial Revolution led to an increase in coal to power factories and railroads. Iron was needed to produce new machines, engines, and railroad tracks. By 1800, England made more iron than all the other nations in the world combined!

Henry Bessemer invented a cheap process for making steel which was stronger and cheaper than iron. The Bessemer Process Steel allowed for engineers to design more powerful machines, taller buildings, and longer bridges.

Conclusion From 1700 to 1900, revolutions in agriculture, industry, transportation, and communication changed Western Europe and the United States. Industrialization gave Europe tremendous Economic and Military power. Industry also had numerous negative effects on working conditions & the standard of living for urban workers https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=4_5bZwNicvY