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.