THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN

NEW MACHINE, NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS During the 1700’s, inventors were building new machines Inventors were discovering new ways of powering these machines Society was transformed by this period beginning in the mid-1700’s called the Industrial Revolution

The IR started in Great Britain in the mid-1700’s Why there? INCEPTION

LABOR SUPPLY Large number of able workers Where did these workers come from? LABOR SUPPLY

NATURAL RESOURCES Britain had two important mineral resources that made the IR possible: Coal and Iron Ore Cotton and other resources were imported from England’s colonies

INVESTMENT CAPITAL Great Britain had capital (money and goods) to invest in new industries This money came from wealthy landowners and merchants

ENTREPRENEURS England was home to many entrepreneurs, who saw the IR as a way to make a lot of money very quickly Entrepreneurs would: Build factories, develop new ways of producing goods, search for new markets to sell goods, and provide financial backing to inventors

TRANSPORTATION England is an island so there are a number of harbors, making it much easier to transport materials in and manufactured goods out of the country Britain’s powerful navy was able to protect British merchant ships

MARKETS England and its colonies made for a perfect market for the newly mass-produced goods of the IR As more goods needed to be produced, more jobs were created and more people had money to spend on factory- made products

The British government did a lot to encourage the IR Parliament passed laws to protect businesses and help them to expand GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

REVIEW Why did the IR begin in Great Britain? Are these good reasons? Could it have started anywhere else? Why?