Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a great turning point in the history of the world. It changed the Western world from a basically rural and agricultural society to a basically urban and industrial society. The introduction of power-driven machinery and the development of factory organization during the Industrial Revolution created an enormous increase in the production of goods. Before the revolution, manufacturing was done by hand, or by using animal power or simple machines. Most people worked at home in rural areas. The Industrial Revolution eventually took manufacturing out of the home and workshop. Power-driven machines replaced handwork. Factories became the most economical way of bringing together the machines and the workers who operate them. Trade expansion was enabled by the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. Trains and steam power greatly increase trade and communication.
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain for a few important reasons. First of all, Britain was in excess of resources, both natural and social. Britain had great amounts of coal and iron. The coal was used for steam engines while the iron was used to build the machines that workers of the revolution were building. These workers we readily available because of the Agricultural Revolution, which led to a population boom. At the time of the Industrial Revolution, Britain had a very prosperous economy because of overseas trade. This allowed the business class to invest their money in many industrial areas. The population boom also caused a need for more goods at home. Britain also had many mechanics that were ready to design and build new inventions. They were very skilled and able to develop new technologies. Lastly, Britain had a very stable government at the time. Many entrepreneurs were able to emerge and were not criticized by the upper class.
The most important invention in history is electricity. Its uses cannot be listed because there are so many. We could...
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