Chapter 7, Section 2 Britain Leads the Way

Lesson Objectives Explain why Britain was the starting point for the Industrial Revolution. Describe the changes that transformed the textile industry. Identify the different methods for transportation during this time period.

Reasons why Britain was the starting point of the Industrial Revolution Resources – small nation in area, large in natural resources Coal – power steam engines Iron – build new machines Labor supply Workers needed to mine coal & iron, build factories, run machines Freed many people from farm labor Led to population boom

Reasons why Britain was the starting point of the Industrial Revolution New technology -Plenty of skilled mechanics, eager to meet growing demands for new practical inventions

Reasons why Britain was the starting point of the Industrial Revolution Economic conditions Trade from growing overseas empire helped Britain’s economy prosper Slave trade Business accumulated capital or money (wealth to invest in enterprises) Shipping, mining, railroads, factories Population explosion – increased demand for goods Economic prosperity – helped make new consumer goods affordable to every class

Reasons why Britain was the starting point of the Industrial Revolution Political & Social Conditions Stable government Supported economic growth Strong navy to protect empire Religious attitudes Some religious groups – encouraged thrift & hard work which made for successful business Others weren’t concerned w/ the afterlife – were risk-takers & wanted material wealth

Britain’s textile industry Changes that transformed the textile (cloth) industry Industrial Revolution began in Britain’s largest industry Britain’s textile industry Cotton cloth imported from India Developed “putting out” system Raw cotton distributed to peasant families Peasants spun it into thread & wove it into cloth Skilled artisans in towns finished & dyed cloth

Changes that transformed the textile (cloth) industry Industrial Revolution began in Britain’s largest industry As demand for cloth grew, inventors created devices which simplified textile industry John Kay “Flying shuttle” Weavers wove faster James Hargreave Spinning jenny (1764) Spun many threads at same time Richard Arkwright Waterframe Used power to speed up spinning

Changes that transformed the textile (cloth) industry Industrial Revolution began in Britain’s largest industry Manufacturers built long sheds to house machinery Located near rapidly moving streams Provided water power to run machines Late machines were powered by steam engines Spinners & weavers came to work in first factories (place that brought together workers & machines to produce large quantities of goods)

New technologies that were part of the revolution in transportation With increase in production, businessmen needed faster, cheaper ways to move goods from place to place Capitalists invested in turnpikes Privately built roads Charged travelers a fee to use Other capitalists dug canals Linked rivers Connected inland towns w/ coastal ports

New technologies that were part of the revolution in transportation On land ~ steam locomotive> growth of railroad 1800’s George Stephenson Steam-powered locomotive Rail carriage along iron rails Railroads did not have to follow the course of rivers Tracks go where rivers don’t Allowed factory owners to move goods over land (1830) World’s first rail line From Liverpool to Manchester, Eng. By 1870, rail lines all across Eng. America & Europe

New technologies that were part of the revolution in transportation On sea ~ steam power to improve shipping Robert Fulton (1807) Used Watt’s first steam engine to power the Clermont up the Hudson R. Traveled 5 mph Late 1800’s steam-powered freighters With iron hulls Carried 10-20 times cargo of wooden ships