Causes of the Industrial Revolution Fill in your notes as we discuss the Industrial Revolution’s causes!

Cause #1: The War of 1812 During the War of 1812, it was difficult for Americans to import manufactured goods from Europe. The war decreased the amount of imported goods because ships were not able to travel safely across the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, Americans realized that they could produce those manufactured goods for themselves! They started to build factories and increase the production of American manufactured goods.

Check your Understanding: We import most of our oil from the Middle East. What happens to the price of gas when we are fighting a war in the Middle East? Why do you think this happens?

Check your Understanding During the War of 1812, why did Americans start to build more factories and produce their own goods?

Make a connection! When it became too expensive to import goods from Europe, we built our own factories! Now that gas prices are getting to be too expensive, what are Americans trying to do?

Cause #2: Investing in New Technology Manufacturers (factory owners) realized that they could produce goods more efficiently and make more money if they invested in industrial technology! Inventors started to create machines like the steam engine, the powered loom, and the cotton gin to improve production.

Check your Understanding! In this box, draw a visual to show how these innovations improved production during the Industrial Revolution:

Cause #3: Rivers and Canals The U.S. had many large, fast-flowing rivers that provided the water needed to power steam engines in the factories. Eventually, Americans started to dig canals (artificial rivers) to create even more access to water and build more factories. Canals helped to spread industrialization because they provided water for power and served as waterways for transportation of goods.

Remember the Erie Canal! America Story of Us Division (1:00 to 7:30)

Check your Understanding Explain TWO ways that rivers helped to spread industrialization

Cause #4: Immigration Immigrants from Ireland and Germany moved to the United States during the 1800’s and worked as factory laborers in the cities. Immigrants from China helped build the railroads across the U.S.

Video clip: Ellis Island https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMURmbHcGOo America Story of Us, Cities: 8:40 to 11:40

Video Clip: Chinese Immigrants Chinese Railroad Workers: The Transcontinental Railroad (0-2min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOn0RFFOr1s

Check your Understanding! What did immigrants from Europe (Ireland and Germany) do during the Industrial Revolution? What did immigrants from China do during the Industrial Revolution?