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The Industrial Revolution

In this lesson, students will be able to define or explain the following terms:

Reasons for the Industrial Revolution

The Domestic System

Urbanization

Laissez-faire Capitalism

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The Industrial Revolution began in GreatBritain in the 1750s. It quickly spread to

Europe and the United States.

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Great Britain had many harbors and rivers,as well as coal.

It had a good location for trade.

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Great Britain had a vast colonial empire.This empire brought raw materials to her

ports. Cheap raw materials fueled industrialization.

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The British middle class promotedtrade and industrialization.

They invested capital in manufacturing.

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Great Britain had good transportation andcommunication systems. Canals, postal

service, newspapers, and the world’s mostpowerful navy helped industrialization.

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Before the Industrial Revolution, weaversand craftsmen worked at home. Thiswas known as the domestic system.

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Inventions also helped industrialization.The spinning jenny allowed one person

to spin six or seven threads at once.

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James Watt’s improved steam enginemade steam power available for

mechanical purposes. Steam powercould drive many machines.

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Workers were placed together in factories.Early factories were often unsafe places

to work. Workers worked long hoursand received low wages.

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Urbanization occurred. Large numbersof workers moved from the countryside

to cities.

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The first railroads were created in the early 1830s. Railroads linked cities,

factories, towns, and rural areas.

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A new middle class of capitalists emerged.They developed laissez-faire capitalismor a free market where the government

does not intervene in the market.

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Questions for Reflection:

• What were the causes of the Industrial Revolution?

• How did the domestic system differ from the factory system?

• What is urbanization and what were the effects of urbanization?

• Define laissez-faire capitalism.• What were the advantages and

disadvantages of industrialization?