AP Human Geography: The Industrial Revolution

Origins of the Industrial Revolution

• Began in England, mid-1700s to 1800s.
• Key factors:
  • Growing workforce.
  • Access to raw resources (e.g., coal, iron).
  • Access to new capital.
  • New inventions and technology, notably the steam engine.

Impact of the Steam Engine

• Transformed production:
  • Enabled factories to use assembly lines and machines.
• Revolutionized trade and transportation:
  • Ships could travel greater distances and faster.
  • Trains could transport goods and people over long distances.
  • Example: Transcontinental Railroad in the U.S.

Decline of Cottage Industries

• Cottage industries: Home-based production using traditional techniques.

• Industrialization led to mass-production capability, outcompeting cottage industries.

• Demographic effects:

  • Industrial Revolution spurred population growth (linked to stage 2 of demographic transition model).
  • Increased urban migration from rural areas seeking economic opportunities.

Agricultural Advancements

• Mechanization of farming decreased need for human labor, increased farm output.
• Improved transportation allowed for broader market reach.
• Enclosure movement increased urbanization as small farmers moved to cities.

Global Impact and Legacy

• Increased standard of living and food surplus.
• Reshaped migration patterns and social classes.
• Increased global interaction.
• Also led to inequality and uneven economic development.