 In 1750 most people worked the land only using hand made tools.  They made there own clothes and grew their own food.  By the 1850’s many country villages had grown into industrial towns and cities.  Between 1830 and 1855 an American dentist first used anesthetic to prevent pain during surgery

 The Industrial Revolution was made possible by the change in farming fields in western Europe.  The Dutch led the way in the new agricultural revolution.  11,000 years ago people learned to farm and domesticate animals until about 300 years ago, farming remained the same  Jethro Tull created the seed drill to aid farmers. It deposits seeds into rows instead of scattering them in the field, less wasteful.

 Rich landowners enclosed land formerly shared by peasant farmers to increase the land to raise sheep on.  Parliament allowed enclosures through legislation.

agriculture revolution contributed to rapid growth of population. 1700’s population statistics were very rare. Britain population went up to 5 million to 9 million. This happen because there was reduced risk of starvation.

 During the 1700s, people began to harness new sources of energy. In 1712, British inventor Thomas Newcomen had developed a steam engine powered by coal. In 1764, Scottish engineer James Watt looked at Newcomen’s invention and tried to improve it. The steam engine opened the door not only to operating machinery but eventually to powering locomotives and steamships.

 Coal was a vital source of fuel in the production of iron. Iron was used in the construction of building the steam engine. In 1709, Abraham Darby used coal instead of charcoal to smelt iron. Using coal to smelt iron, he made a less expensive, better quality iron to make the steam engine. ol