Notes

5.3: The Industrial Revolution and How it Changed the Globe

The Industrial Revolution (IR) was a period of rapid industrialization that began in Great Britain in the 18th century. The IR led to various economic and social changes around the world. Although, you may ask, why Great Britain? Let’s analyze this occurrence together.

• Great Britain (GB) was a key player in the Columbian exchange and had accumulated various resources through its plentiful land holdings, giving it the material to initiate the IR. Its increased participation in global trade also gave it excessive capital to fund these ventures. 

• GB maintained a close proximity to various waterways and its strategic location on the Atlantic Ocean permitted it to easily transport various raw materials and completed items. 

• GB was also located on various coal deposits which allowed for fuel to support the IR. Additionally, increased iron and steel production permitted GB to build stronger infrastructure and ships.

• GB additionally had a policy of protecting private property, where there was a legal guarantee that the government or other individuals could not take over an entrepreneurial enterprise or business. This protection encouraged investment and innovation.

With the Industrial Revolution came the Agricultural Revolution. New innovations like crop rotation increased agricultural outputs, while potatoes arriving from South America offered a new and more fulfilling food source for the population. As a result of more to eat, the population grew and infant mortality rates dropped.

Throughout GB, the Enclosure Movement rose to prominence. Originally, peasants maintained access to common public lands where they’d work. Wealthy landowners then enclosed these areas and set the land as private property. Peasants now had nowhere to work, and were forced to move to urban cities to seek employment in factories.

Speaking of which, the factory system replaced the commonly practiced cottage industry where women would be given raw cotton to spin at home. This process was incredibly time consuming, so machinery became a necessity to meet the demand for cotton. This being said, various new technologies arose:

• Spinny Jenny: this machine allowed many threads to be spun at once.

• Water Frame: This innovation utilized waterpower to drive the iconic spinning wheel.

• Interchangeable Parts: This innovation allowed for specific parts in firearms to be replaced, increasing efficiency so that entire structures did not have to be replaced.

Over time, these innovations allowed for a new Division and Specialization of Labor, where workers would focus on specific tasks rather than producing the whole product.