Post on 05-Jan-2016
The Industrial Revolution
PAVING THE WAY. . .
• The Agricultural Revolution of the 1700s changed farming.– Wealthy landowners bought out small farmers.– More advanced crop rotation = even more food.– Jethro Tull: Changed seed distribution– ***Small farmers who are out of jobs have to
go somewhere. But where?
What is the Industrial Revolution?
• It is a change in the way goods are produced.
• Before, most goods were produced, by hand, at home.
• Now, goods are produced in mass quantities by machines in factories.
Ind. Revolution: BEGINNINGS
• The Industrial Revolution began in Britain.
• Why?– Large population of workers (incl. Former
small farmers)– Lots of natural resources including:
• Water power and coal to fuel machines
• Iron ore for construction
• Rivers and harbors
Other British Advantages
• Businessmen and banks eager to invest in new technologies.
• High demand for new goods• Political stability (no revolutions)• Britain had the 4 factors of production:
– Land– Labor– Capital– Entrepreneurs (investors)
GOOD CHANGES• Textiles:
• 1.John Kay’s flying shuttle,
• 2.James Hargreaves’ “spinning jenny”,
• 3.Arkwright’s waterframe,
• 4.Eli Whitney’s cotton gin.
GOOD CHANGES, Pt. 2
• Transportation:
• 1. James Watt’s steam engine,
• 2. Robert Fulton’s steamboat (a whole 2 mph!), eventually, the railroad.
• Both textile production and transportation became more consistent.
BAD CHANGES
• Urbanization: People crowded into smelly cities that were heavily polluted.
• Working Conditions: 14 hours/day, 6 days/week. Factories were dirty, machines were dangerous.
• Child Labor: No limits to amount of work, danger. Children went to work to help families rather than go to school.