25.1 The Beginnings of Industrialization Mr. Lahiff April 7, 2016

Why Did Industrial Revolution Begin in England? (1)Natural Resources-water power, coal, iron ore, rivers and harbors (2)Financial Resources- “Businesspeople invested in the manufacture of new inventions…People were encouraged by the availability of bank loans to invest in new machinery and expand their operations.” (3)Political Stability- “Though Britain took part in many wars during the 1700s, none occurred on British soil…Parliament also passed laws to help encourage and protect business ventures.”

It Begins with Agriculture… “In 1700…Wealthy landowners…began buying up much of the land…Within these larger fields, called enclosures, landowners experimented with more productive seeding and harvesting methods to boost crop yields.” Jethro Tull’s Seed Drill

Crop Rotation- “One year, for example, a farmer might plant a field with wheat, which exhausted soil nutrients. The next year he planted a root crop, such as turnips, to restore nutrients.” Selective Breeding “Robert Blakewell increased his mutton (sheep meat) output by allowing only his best sheep to breed.” “As food supplies increased and living conditions improved, England’s population mushroomed. An increasing population boosted the demand for food and goods such as cloth. As farmers lost their land to [wealthier landowners] many became factory workers.”

Textiles Experience Industrialization First “[Textiles were] the first to be transformed…several major inventions had modernized the cotton industry…flying shuttle…spinning wheel…water frame…spinning mule…power loom…” **All advance earlier models of production** “[These inventions] took the work of spinning and weaving out of the house. Wealthy textile merchants set up the machines in large buildings called factories.”

The Steam Engine and Transportation “James Watt, a mathematical instrument maker…figured out a way to make the steam engine work faster…” “In 1774, Watt joined with a businessman named Matthew Boulton. Boulton was an entrepreneur, a person who organizes, manages, and takes on the risks of a business. He paid Watt a salary and encouraged him to build better engines…” Steam boats, Canals, “macadam” roads…

Railways Emerge “George Stephenson…In 1821…began work on the world’s first railroad line…” “The invention and perfection of the locomotive had at least four major effects…” (1) Cheap Transportation (2) Many new railroad industry jobs and miner jobs (3) British agriculture and fishing boom (4) Movement of people (city   country)

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