Revolucion Industrial

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Around 1750, most work was not carried out in factories but in small workshops which were attached to their houses, this was called domestic system. At first the Industrial Revolution was based mainly on the production o textiles (wool and cotton) and iron and used water or coal to generate steam power. As the factory system grew people left the villages to find worknear the new mines and factories, and towns grew quickly.
It started in Britain:
Britain became the first industrial country in the world for different reasons. The population of Britain increased rapidly from around 1750 onwards because people married before at a younger age so more children were born. This result in a greater demand for goods such as clothes. It also provided a much- neededworkforce for the new factories. Many new machines were invented in Britain which speeded up the manufacture of goods. The most important invention at this time was the steam engine. Britain had plentiful supplies of coal and iron. Coal was used to run the new machines. The machines were made from iron because this material could withstand great heat. Britain ruled over many foreign lands calledcolonies. The colonies provided raw materials such as cotton and flax for the new factories. Businessmen in Britain were willing to invest money in the new industries. Without their investment, the industrial Revolution would not have been possible.

a) In continental Europe

BELGIUM: It was the first “country” to undergo the IR in continental Europe. Advantages:
* Lots of naturalresources (coal)
* Wealthy trading centers in Gent (textile)
* Strategic position between “Germany” and France
Belgium became an independent state in 1830. Between 1830 and 1850:
* The coal production grew from 2 to 6 million tones
* The number of steam machines grew from 354 to 2300

FRANCE. Advantages:
*
* Lots of natural resources (coal)
* Textile centre in N-E* Two major cities: Paris and Lyon.

* Between 1850-1870:
* Coal and steel production x3
* Energy production x5
* Factories x2 number of employees
GERMANY. The IR really started in 1871(unification of the German States). Advantages:
* Lots of natural resources (coal)
* Textile centers in Bohemia and Saxony
CONCLUSION: there were lots of technical innovations but isnot enough to explain the IR/industrialization process (there are many other factors).
b) Demographic changes:
Between 1750 and 1850, the European pop grew from 162 to 266 million inhabitants. The birth rate increased and the death rate decreased. Why? Improvements in hygiene and medicine and higher food productivity (less food shortages=less famine). The average of marriage fell from 27 to 20, sofamilies became larger. The period of the plague was over, no new epidemics appeared. Health and medical improvements. Better diet, more food as a result of agricultural changes. Infant mortality fell. Jobs for children became available in the factories.
c) Inventions and industries:
The clothes, before, were made from wool. By 1800, cotton manufacturing had become Britain’s greatest industry.Woollen and cotton clothes were originally made slowly by hand in people’s home. New machines were invented which greatly speeded up the production of cloth and led to the building of large factories. The earliest factories were located in the countryside near rivers or steams. The machines used in these mills were run by water power:
-Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves): Allowed one spinner tospin eight yarns at a time.
- Water frame (Richard Arkwright): Allowed the spinning of hundred of yarns at the same time. It was run by water power.
-Spinning mule (Samuel Crompton): Better than the water frame and made finer thread.
- Flying shuttle (John Kay): Allowed one weaver to double the work.
- Power loom (Edmund Cartwright): Greatly speeded up the weaving of cloth.
The use of steam...