The Industrial Revolution: Key Insights

Definition

• Transition from agrarian to industrial economies.
• Goods transitioned from handmade to machine-made.

Impact

• Shifted world political power balance.
• Reordered societies.
• Made industrial nations wealthy.

Origin

• Began in Great Britain around 1750.

Factors Contributing to Britain's Industrialization

1. Proximity to Waterways

• Island nation with many rivers and canals.
• Facilitated rapid transportation of goods.

2. Geographical Distribution of Coal and Iron

• Abundant coal powered early industrialization.
• Coal enhanced iron production efficiency.

3. Access to Foreign Resources

• Britain’s maritime empire provided raw materials (e.g., timber from North America, copper from India).

4. Improved Agricultural Productivity

• Agricultural revolution increased food production.
• Crop rotation and seed drills improved efficiency.
• Introduction of new foods, like potatoes (Columbian Exchange), improved diets and longevity.
• Resulted in population growth.

5. Rapid Urbanization

• Mechanization in agriculture reduced farm jobs, leading to urban migration for industrial jobs.

6. Legal Protection of Private Property

• Laws protecting business risk-takers encouraged industrial entrepreneurship.

7. Accumulation of Capital

• Wealth from the Atlantic slave trade provided investment capital for industrial businesses.

Development of the Factory System

• Factories concentrated production and mass-produced goods using machines.
• Water-powered factories (e.g., water frame, spinning jenny) increased textile production speed.
• Led to labor specialization; workers became interchangeable parts in the production process.

Conclusion

• Britain’s unique set of circumstances enabled it to lead in industrialization.
• The factory system revolutionized production and labor dynamics.