Question

History Question: The Early Industrial Revolution 1760-1851

5-6 sentences

How did events in the eighteenth century lead to industrialization in the nineteenth century? What was the most important catalyst for industrialization?

Answer 1

The first Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain after 1750. There were several factors that combined to make Great Britain an ideal place for industrialization. First, the Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century created a favourable climate for industrialization.

Increased food production made the British self-reliant and food was available at lower prices. This created surplus money with British families that was available to purchase manufactured goods. The population moved towards urban areas in search of wage-labour created a ready pool of workers for the new industries.

Britain had financial institutions like a central bank, to finance new factories. British entrepreneurs were ready to take the risk.

Britain had a vast supply of mineral resources such as coal that is used to run industrial machines. These minerals were in surplus so Britain could earn by selling these resources so they were transported at a reasonable cost.

The important technological changes that boost the first Industrial Revolution are as follow:

James Hargreaves' invented the Spinning Jenny in 1764. Now the yarn could be produced in greater quantities.

In 1787, Edmund Cartwright's invented power loom that revolutionized the speed of cloth weaving.

In the 1760s, the steam engine was developed by James Watt made the transportation of the cotton easy and fast boosting the cotton industry.

A new method of iron smelting using coke was invented. The coke is more efficient than charcoal in producing iron so the production rate of iron increased. This iron was instrumental in creating industrial machinery and railroad lines.