JANUARY 30 I CAN EXPLAIN WHY BRITAIN WAS THE STARTING POINT OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Britain Leads the Way

Why did it begin in Britain? RESOURCES Small nation with large supplies of coal to power steam engines Agricultural revolution freed many people from farm labor to factory work

Technology Skilled mechanics eager to meet demand for new inventions Demand and capital grew leading way for technology Capital- wealth to invest in enterprises such as shipping, mines, railroads, and factories.

Economic Conditions From mid 1600’s to 1700’s, trade from oversea empire helped Britain prosper Slave trade Population increased Economic prosperity made goods affordable to every social class

Political or Social conditions Stable government Strong navy to protect empire and oversea trade Religious attitude encouraged hard work Inventors and bankers were risk takers to gain material wealth

Textile Cotton imported from India was popular Britain developed system in which raw cotton was distributed to peasant families who spun into thread and then wove the cloth. Skilled workers finished and dyed the cloth

Inventions John Kay – flying shuttle Weavers outpaced spinners with invention James Hargreaves - Spinning Jenny Spun many threads at same time Richard Arkwright – waterframe Used water power to speed up spinning

Factories Spinners and weavers came to work each day in the first factories – places that brought together workers and machines to produce large quantities of goods

Transportation Turnpikes – privately built roads that charged a fee to travelers who used them. Others had canals dug to connect rivers and ports Stronger bridges were built

Inventions On Land- George Stephenson – steam powered locomotives First major rail line opened in 1803 in England ON sea, Robert Fulton – steamboat Clermont Record breaking speed !!!! More than five miles per hour.