The History of United States
Industrial Revolution
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
The industrial revolution took place between the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the time period that America and Europe became Industrial and urban, which began in Britain in the late 1700’s. The Industrialization was a transition to powered machinery, factories and mass production, which included iron and textile industries. The development of the steam engine played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, which improved systems of communication, transportation and banking. The industrialization increased the amount and variety of goods and improved some people’s standards of living
BRITAIN WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
Before the Industrial Revolution, most of the people lived in small, rural communities where they mostly farmed. Life for the average person was difficult, as the income was small and diseases were common. The people there produced their own food, clothes, furniture and tools.
These are some of the things that contributed to Britain’s role as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution:
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It had great amounts of coal and iron ore, which was essential for the Industrialization.
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It was the world’s leading colonial power, which meant that it was a politically stable society.
Many people wanted more British goods, so the merchants needed more cost-effective ways of production, which led to the rise of mechanization and the factory system.
INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
Before all the machines and factories came, the textiles were made in homes. Around the 1700s, series of innovations caused more and more productivity, while needing less human energy.
For instance in 1764 Englishman, James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny. The spinning jenny was a machine which produced multiple spools of threads at the same time. Twenty years later the spinning jenny was improved, and called the spinning mule.
Another innovation in textile was the power loom, which mechanized the process of weaving cloth.
In early 18th century Abraham Darby found an easier and cheaper way to produce cast iron and in 1850's, British engineer came with the first inexpensive production of mass producin steel. Both iron and steel became popular materials used to make everything from tools and machines to ships and buildings.
In 1712, Englishman Thomas Newcomen developed the first useful steam engine which was used firstly to pump water out of mines. Almost 70 years later Scottish inventor had improved it and the steam engine went to power machines, locomotives and ships during Industrial Revolution.
TRANSPORTATION
There were changes made to the transportation industry. Before the steam engines all the needed materials and goods were transported by horse-drawn wagons and boats.
In early 1800's American Robert Fulton built the first successful steamboat, and by the mid 19th century, steamships were transporting produce across the Atlantic. In early 1800's Richard Trevithick, a British engineer, constucted the first steam engine powered railway. Around 1820 Scott Mcadam, a Scottish engineer, developed a new process for road construction, his technique made the roads smoother, less muddy and more durable.
RAILROADS
The railroad played a huge part in the Industrial Revolution. Railroads could transport needed materials faster than before. This helped big businesses to grow. The railroads made it possible for people to move from the country in to the city. The railroad also helped some industries such as the coal industry.
The railroads helped people as well because railroads could deliver supplies quicker and inexpensively. The railroads made new jobs for people because railroads needed workers to build more tracks, engines, and to fill other jobs. Other industries also needed more workers due to the growing demand of supplies needed for railroads, which produced even more jobs.