The Industrial Revolution

1. The Industrial Revolution

2. Before the Revolution • Great Britain was a largely rural society through 18th century • Most Farming occurred on common land • Great Britain became leading manufacturer in cotton goods production • System for producing cotton goods was known as the cottage industry or putting-out system • Individuals made cloth goods out of their own homes using a hand loom • Very labor intensive process!

3. Why it Begins in Great Britain • 1. Improved farming practices • Led to more food, lower prices, healthier people • 2. Population Growth • Enclosure movement forced peasants to move to cities, increased labor available in cities • 3. Britain had lots of money or capital for investment in expensive mill & factory equipment

4. Continued… • 4. Britain had lots of natural resources • Water, coal, iron • 5. Markets to ship/sell goods • Domestic and colonies overseas • These characteristics can be summed up into the Factors of Production: • Land, Capital, Labor

5. Early Cotton Mills • Technological advances make cottage system inefficient • Flying Shuttle • Made weaving faster • Spinning Jenny • Made spinning of thread much faster • Power Loom • Increased rate of weaving

6. Flying Shuttle

7. Spinning Jenny

8. Other Innovations • Water power eventually displaced by steam power • Developed by James Watt • Greatly increases Britain’s cotton production • Mills no longer have to be placed by rivers • Puddling Process leads to improved iron for machines/ trains • 1804: first steam locomotive (5 mph) • 1829: Rocket travels at 16 mph • Carried great quantities of goods

9. Development of Factories • Owners wanted to keep machines running steadily • Increase rate of production & profits! • Factories built to house machinery & workers • Many workers would sleep, eat, and work in such structures

10. Factory Work • Men, Women, Children would work in factories • Why women & children? • Workers responsible for repetitive tasks • Worked long, rigid hours • Heavy fines/ punishment for arriving late or other misconduct

11. Consequences of Factory Work • Highly skilled workers no longer needed • Creates competition for jobs • Lower Wages • Women, children • Poor working conditions & lower wages • Investors wanted to lower cost of production & increase profits • Led to development of new Middle Class – the Industrial Middle Class • People who bought the machines and built the factories

12. Spread of Industrialization • Industrialization spreads throughout Europe & eventually reaches USA • Samuel Slater’s mill • Stole mill plans from England • Led to mass urbanization: • The movement of people to the cities