Industrial Revolution: Steam Engine and Railways

Thesis The Industrial Revolution was a major shift in economic, technological, and cultural conditions. Machinery was a big factor in this shift. The invention of the steam engine lead to many advances in the industries, such as steam powered ships and most importantly railways. Railways led to an offspring of other ideas of transportation, and without them many of the luxuries people have right now would not be available for them.

The Steam Engine Reasons for a steam engine: Needed a way to pump mines Used the water to create steam Didn’t want water in mines because people had to work there and they couldn’t go very deep. Horses didn’t work fast enough to get the water out. The effects of a steam engine: Became most important machine technology Made mills not have to be close to water Brought industrialization to many areas

Thomas Savery English military engineer. Patented the first crude steam engine in 1698 Did so to help pump water out of the coal mines. His Machine: Had a closed vessel filled with water; which steam,under pressure, was introduced. This basically forced water upwards and out of the mine shaft

Thomas Newcomen English blacksmith-worked with Thomas Savery Improved Thomas Savery’s engine design with a better one called the Atmospheric Steam Engine His machine: Basically used the force of atmospheric pressure to do the work Difference: In Newcomen’s engine the intensity wasn’t limited by the pressure of the steam, unlike Thomas Savery’s design

The Watt Steam Engine Made by James Watt in 1769 Incorporated a series of improvements such as a separate steam condensing chamber Improved the efficiency by a factor of 5 and cut the costs of coal by 75% Ability to drive rotary machinery also meant it could be used to drive a factory or mill directly Most engines generated about 5 to 10 hp

Railways Railroads were used before steam engines, men and animals pushed wagons loaded with ore along wooden tracks Made of iron and steal The advances in developing the railroad not only helped with transportation, but also helped to increase safety and efficiency in coal mines, for working in the mines had been very dangerous

Inventors of the Railroads Richard Trevithick harnessed a steam engine to a mine wagon in 1804 This inspired George Stevenson to create his rocket, the first working steam locomotive that was capable of pulling carriages

The First Railways The first railway opened between Liverpool and Manchester in 1830 British state intervened in order to standardize the gauge of the tracks in 1850 Britain became the first country to have a fully working national rail transport system

Effects of Railways Not only did people need better transportation, but manufactured goods, raw materials and food also needed a quick, inexpensive mode of transportation The availability of manufactured goods and food increased because the railroad provided quick transportation The costs of products also decreased due to railroads because of the excess products being brought in.

Conclusion The Steam Engine is said to be one of the most important inventions during the Industrial Revolution because it lead to so many advances. Due to this advance workers could go deeper into mines and use less coal doing so. Also the railroads were perfected which not only led to advances in technology and economy but in turn culture because of the new things that could be brought into different places with such ease.

This PowerPoint was created by Freshman students in a world history class in 2006-2007.