- Took place from 1750-1850
- Before the revolution people were poor farmers that made everything they needed to survive
- People moved from farming areas to cities and buying things other people had made. Transportation and communication became easier
- Second agricultural revolution made better quality food and more of it; new inventions in farming made it more productive; increased population; better hygiene, sanitation, medical care
- Enclosure system: Rich landowners took land from peasants to make more crops; farm output increased and lots of people were forced from homes and into cities
- New technology developed because of new energy types and materials; People started using coal for energy in 1700s
- Thomas Newcomen invented the coal-powered steam engine to pump water out of mines; James Watt improved on it
- Abraham Darby started using coal to make iron, instead of charcoal; This made a stronger cheaper type of iron that was used to make steam engine parts
- It started in Britain because natural resources were available (water, iron, coal); canals could be built and used to ship goods easily; geography = proximity to the sea
- Enterprise and Capital: Large population, and a ready workforce created need for goods; overseas colonies helped Britain economy; Slave trade and other ventures helped make a business class that earned lots of money (capital) they could invest in new businesses; Stable government helped economic growth happen as well as not many trade barriers; Entrepreneurs became popular
- Before Industrial Revolution: putting our system (cottage industry) people made textiles in their homes; first big advances of Industrial Revolution took place in textile production
- First inventions: flying shuttle- weavers could work faster; spinning jenny- helped spinners keep up with weavers; cotton production needed to keep up with spinning and weaving so Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin
- Factories started because new machines could not fit in homes. Long sheds were needed to house machines, which became first factories; new factories were located near water
- Canals; efficient, cheap way to ship coal, raw materials and finished goods around Britain
- Steam Locomotives: didn't have to follow the course of the river to ship goods
- Urbanization: people moved from rural to city; reasons were population growth, lack of workers in factories
- New middle class who owned and operated factories, mines and railroads; middle class lives improved because of industrialization; working class lived in tenements that were dirty over crowded, and disease ridden. Workers protested their poor working conditions by forming labor unions. Had harsh working conditions, long hours, grueling work. Miners work was very dangerous. Children also worked in factories
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AuthorKate Mills Archives
March 2015
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