Early Industrial Revolution in Europe – 1815 to circa 1865

Mr. Darrell’s World History

Molina High School

Copyright © 2008, Ed Darrell

Industrial Revolution

Why do we consider the Industrial Revolution important?

• Effects: Europe shifted from farm- and handicrafts-based economy, to an economy based on machines in factories

Industrial Revolution

Five key factors set it up

1. Lots of food

2. Lots of people

3. Ready supply of money (capital)

4. Abundant natural resources

5. Markets to sell to

Industrial Revolution

Lots of food

1. Farming practices changed; good weather helped. There was enough food to go around, a dramatic increase in the food supply.

Industrial Revolution

Lots of people

2. With ample food supplies, population expanded; this provided a ready supply of labor, of workers, to staff the factories

Industrial Revolution

Lots of money

3. Entrepreneurs sought to expand their fortunes, by investing. People in search of profits made the factories, pushed the inventions, drove the progress

• capital, entrepreneurs

Industrial Revolution

Natural resources

4. Consider Britain: Rivers provided water power and transportation.

Coal and iron ore meant steel, and railroads – use of steam engine was possible

Industrial Revolution

Ready markets to sell to

5. Britain’s colonies were a ready outlet for goods; British merchant ships could transport. Trade, especially in cotton goods, pushed the development of machines and transportation

Industrial Revolution

• Key products for industrialization– Cotton– Coal– Iron

• Why were these products so important?

Industrial Revolution

Cotton• A cottage industry• Key inventions made it industrial

– Cotton ‘gin in U.S.– Flying shuttle– Spinning jenny– Water-powered loom– Steam engine

• By 1840, cotton was Britain’s most valuable product

Cotton ‘gin

Flying shuttle

Spinning jenny

Water powered looms

Power looms

http://www.whitbyhs.cheshire.sch.uk/archived/curric/history/trips/qbm/qbmmachines/powerloom1.mpg

Warm-up

Refrigerator

Needed:• Power compressor• Electricity• Industrial ammonia (and later cooling fluids)

Benefits:• Food storage and preparation• Medicine• Science

Carriages with internal combustion engines

Benefits:

• Speed

• Hauling power

• ‘Round the clock availability

• Inexpensive

Problems, effects

• Dependence on oil

• Pollution

• Land use

• Social issues– Romance– Isolation– Family and job structure

Electronic memory devices

Benefits

• Amazing storage

• Drives other technologies

• Ease of use

BUT

• Expensive

• Socially and culturally isolating

Quick and safe home appliances

Requires:

• Utility hookup – gas or electric – or significant infrastructure to operate

BUT

• Enormous benefits in time and cleanliness, including air pollution

And it continues . . .

• Innovation pace picks up

• New products wreak new social changes

• New products make new markets

• New products bring new problems (Coltan ore, for example)