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Causes and Preconditions for the industrial revolution

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Causes and Preconditions for the industrial revolution

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Historians may disagree on most aspects of the Industrial Revolution, but one thing they do agree on is that 18th-century Britain experienced a huge change in the economic field of goods, production and technology, and the social sphere (through urbanization and treatment of workers). The reasons for this change continue to fascinate historians, leading people to wonder if there was a set of preconditions present in Britain shortly before the Revolution which enabled or allowed it to take place. These preconditions tend to cover population, agriculture, industry, transport, trade, finance, and raw materials.

Preconditions for Industrialization in Britain Circa 1750

Agriculture: As a supplier of raw materials, the agricultural sector was closely linked to the industrial; this was the main source of occupation for the British population. Half of the arable land had been enclosed, while half remained in the medieval open field system. The British agricultural economy produced a large surplus of food and drink and had been labeled the "Granary of Europe" because of its exports. However, production was labor-intensive. Although there had been some new crops introduced, and there were problems with underemployment. Consequently, people had multiple occupations.

Industry: Most industries were small scale, domestic and local, but traditional industries could meet the domestic demands. There was some inter-regional trade, but this was limited by poor transport. The key industry was wool production, bringing in a substantial portion of Britain's wealth, but this was coming under threat from cotton.

Population: The nature of the British population has implications for the supply and demand for food and goods, as well as the supply of cheap labor. The population had increased in the earlier part of the 18th century, especially closer to the middle of the era, and was mostly located in rural areas. The people were gradually accepting of social change and the upper and middle classes were interested in new thinking in science, philosophy. and culture.

Transport: Good transport links are seen as a basic requirement for the Industrial Revolution, as the transport of goods and raw materials were essential for reaching wider markets. Generally, in 1750, transport was limited to poor quality local roads - a few of which were "turnpikes," toll roads which improved speed but added cost - rivers, and coastal traffic. While this system was limited, interregional trade did occur, such as coal from the north to London.

Trade: This had developed during the first half of the 18th century both internally and externally, with a great deal of wealth coming from the triangle trade of enslaved people. The main market for British goods was Europe, and the government maintained a mercantilist policy to encourage it. Provincial ports had developed, such as Bristol and Liverpool.

Finance: By 1750, Britain had begun to move towards capitalist institutions - which are considered part of the development of the Revolution. The produce of trade was creating a new, wealthy class prepared to invest in industries. Groups like the Quakers have also been identified as investing in areas which contributed to the industrial boom.

Raw Materials: Britain had the raw resources necessary for a revolution in plentiful supply. Although they were being extracted in abundance, this was still limited by traditional methods. In addition, the related industries tended to be nearby because of poor transport links, exerting a pull on where industry occurred.

Conclusions

Britain in 1870 had the following which has all been stated as necessary for an Industrial Revolution: good mineral resources, growing population, wealth, spare land and food, ability to innovate, laissez-faire government policy, scientific interest, and trading opportunities. Around 1750, all of these began to develop simultaneously. The result was a massive change.

Causes of the Revolution

As well as the debate over preconditions, there has been a closely-related discussion over the causes of the revolution. A wide range of factors is generally considered to have worked together, including:

The end of medieval structures changed economic relationships and allowed for change.

A higher population because of less disease and lower infant mortality allows for a larger industrial workforce.

The Agricultural Revolution frees people from the soil, allowing - or driving - them into cities and manufacturing.

Proportionally large amounts of spare capital were available for investment.

Inventions and the scientific revolution allowed for new technology to increase and cheapen production.

Colonial trade networks allowed the import of materials and the export of manufactured goods.

The presence of all the required resources close together, such as coal near iron.

Culture of hard work, risk-taking, and the development of ideas.

Demand for goods.

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The Many Causes and Conditions That Led to the Industrial Revolution

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Do you know what caused the Industrial Revolution, what Britain was like before it, and if there was a set of preconditions leading to it?

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Could you make it in this cut-throat Victorian trade

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Positive and Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution

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This is Karl Marx. He is the one who thought of communism. He thought that the Industrial Revolution was just helping the rich and hurting the poor. He predicted that the workers would rise up against the owners and take control of the economy. Positives vs. Negatives Capitalism

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Simply, the working conditions were terrible during the Industrial Revolution. As factories were being built, businesses were in need of workers. With a long line of people willing to work, employers could set wages as low as they wanted because people were willing to do work as long as they got paid. People worked fourteen to sixteen hours a day for six days a week. However, the majority were unskilled workers, who only received about $8-$10 dollars a week, working at approximately 10 cents an hour. Skilled workers earned a little more, but not significantly more. Women received one-third or sometimes one-half the pay that men received. Children received even less. Owners, who were only concerned with making a profit, were satisfied because labor costed less.

Factories were not the best places to work. The only light present was the sunlight that came through the windows. Machines spit out smoke and in some factories, workers came out covered in black soot by the end of the day. There were a plethora of machines with not many safety precautions. This resulted in many accidents. The workers only received a break for lunch and a break for dinner.

Children were paid less than 10 cents an hour for fourteen hour days of work. They were used for simpler, unskilled jobs. Many children had physical deformities because of the lack of exercise and sunlight. The use of children as labor for such long hours with little pay led to the formation of labor unions.

Labor Unions formed because workers finally wanted to put a stop to long hours with little pay. They demanded more pay and fairer treatment. They did not want children to work in factories because of the danger involved. Labor unions organized strikes and protests. However, as more immigrants came to the United States, more workers became available. These workers were willing to work, even if others were not because of unfair treatment. This lessened the effect of the labor unions since businesses had no shortage of workers. This is why most labor unions were unsuccessful.

As business began to boom and the national markets grew, more people began to move to the Northeast because they wanted jobs. Most people lived in the "slum" as depicted in the picture to the left. Five to nine people lived in a single room which was as big as an apartment. Not only was there not enough room, but more people got sick as well. Because everyone lived in terrible conditions and so close to one another, diseases spread rapidly and lack of medicine and medical care resulted in many deaths. At the time, population was increasing rapidly because of more people moving in, so apartments became more crowded and in worse condition. These were the people that lived every lives that had to fight for jobs and competed to live.

As industrialization occurred, the middle class emerged. The middle class, skilled workers, managers, clerks, accountants, and others, had the money they needed to survive, and had money left over for other leisure goods. This extra money enabled them to live comfortably. Most moved away from the cities because they thought the "slum" was unhygienic and unpleasant. This led to the beginning of suburbs, or socially segregated neighborhoods. However, the majority of the people living in industrialized areas lived in terrible, harsh conditions because of the lack of money and the overwhelming population.

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Simply, the working conditions were terrible during the Industrial Revolution. As factories were being built, businesses were in need of workers. With a long line of people willing to work, employers could set wages as low as they wanted because people were willing to do work as long as they got paid.

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The industrial revolution refers to a period of rapid economic and social change between the end of the Eighteenth Century and the mid-Nineteenth Century. The industrial revolution involved a prolonged evolution in the nature of economic activity. It led to an unprecedented rise in output and total national income. In particular, old traditional methods of hand production were replaced by the use of machines, leading to large-scale factory production. The industrial revolution was helped by technological innovations such as steam power, cheaper iron, specialisation, the growth of modern banking, and new machines which could do the work of several people.

The start of the industrial revolution is often held to begin around 1760-80, with the development of the steam engine, coke produced iron and innovations such as the spinning jenny.

A 'Second Industrial Revolution' from around 1840-1870 built on this initial burst of innovation and development. The second industrial revolution saw further economic progress, through the greater use of railways, cheaper steel, and the increased use of steam engines.

Inventors and Entrepreneurs of the Industrial Revolution

Edmund Cartwright (1743-1823) - English inventor, and member of the Anglican clergy. Cartwright invented the power loom which significantly increased the efficiency of textile production. He also developed a wool-combing machine.

Robert Owen (1771 - 1858) - Welsh social reformer who attempted to build a utopian socialist and co-operative movement. Owen sought to consider the welfare of his workers, something usually overlooked in the industrial revolution.

Sir Humphrey Davy (1778 - 1829) - English chemist and inventor. He invented the Davy lamp used by miners to help detect gas and improve safety. He also discovered several alkaline earth metals and discovered more about the chemical properties of chlorine and iodine.

George Stephenson (1781 - 1848) Mechanical engineer, who developed the steam engine for use in trains. He was a key figure in building the 25 mile Stockton and Darlington railway. Stephenson also built the first intercity railway between Liverpool and Manchester - ushering in the 'railway age'.

Joseph Locke (1805 - 1860) English civil engineer. Locke was an important railway pioneer. He built the Grand Junction Railway which connected the Liverpool railway to Crewe and Birmingham. He developed new techniques for laying rails and was considered better at finishing projects than Stephenson.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 - 1859) English engineer. Brunel was at the heart of many of the key building projects of the British industrial revolution. He built the Great Western Railway from Bristol to London and also developed powerful steamships. He also built the first tunnel under a navigable river.

Sir Henry Bessemer (1813 - 1898) an English engineer, inventor, and businessman. Bessemer's greatest contribution was to the mass production of steel, which was a key component of the second wave of the industrial revolution.

Social activists of the industrial revolution

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) Marx saw the industrial revolution as being a stage in the eventual struggle and triumph of the Proletariat. Marx felt it was a historical inevitability that the oppressed workers of industrial states would eventually revolt against the capitalist class.

Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) German social scientist and political activist. His work, The Condition of the Working Class in England (1844), explained the dire conditions of the workers caught up in the industrial revolution. In 1848, he co-authored the 'Communist Manifesto' with Karl Marx.

Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) English writer and social critic. Dickens lived through the industrial revolution and became a harsh critic of its worst excesses.

Political Groups

The Luddites were a group of 19th-century English skilled workers who were concerned about losing their skilled jobs in the textile industry. They saw power looms and spinning frames as the death knell for their profession. They began smashing machines in different factories in protest.

Tolpuddle Martyrs In 1834, a group of Dorset agricultural labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. Their case attracted considerable sympathy, and eventually, they were released. The event is considered an important milestone in the trade union movement.

Chartists - Chartists were a political reform movement, active between 1838 and 1850. Their main aim was to achieve universal male suffrage. They gained mass petitions and organised mass protests hoping to put pressure on politicians to extend the franchise.

American industrial revolution

Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919) Born in Scotland to poor parents, Carnegie moved to America where he became very wealthy through dominating the US steel industry.

John D. Rockefeller (1839 - 1937) Rockefeller became one of the richest persons in the world through his dominance of the oil and railroad industries. He became a generous philanthropist giving money to his church, education, medical science and public health.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. "Famous people of the Industrial Revolution", Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net, 12th Dec 2013. Last updated 5 March 2018.

Industrial Revolutionaries: The Making of the Modern World 1776-1914

Industrial Revolutionaries: The Making of the Modern World 1776-1914 at Amazon
Related pages
People of the Eighteenth-Century (1800-1899) Famous leaders, statesmen, scientists, philosophers and authors. Including; Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

People of the Nineteenth Century (1801 to 1900) Nineteenth Century saw the economic boom of the industrial revolution and worldwide movements for political change.

Victorian age (1837 - 1901) The principal figures of the Victorian age and the second half of the industrial revolution.

Famous Inventors - Famous inventors; including many from the period of the industrial revolution.
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Famous people of the Industrial Revolution |

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The industrial revolution refers to a period of rapid economic and social change between the end of the Eighteenth Century and the mid-Nineteenth Century. The industrial revolution involved a prolonged evolution in the nature of economic activity. It led to an unprecedented rise in output and total national income.

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Inventions

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The inventions and innovations of the Industrial Revolution transformed the U.S. and Great Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tremendous gains in science and technology helped Britain become the world's dominant economic and political power, while in the U.S. it fueled a young nation's westward expansion and built vast fortunes.

A Revolution Twice Over

British innovations harnessed the power of water, steam, and coal, helping the U.K. dominate the global textile market of the mid-1770s. Other advancements made in chemistry, manufacturing, and transportation allowed the nation to expand and fund its empire around the globe.

The American Industrial Revolution began after the Civil War as the U.S. rebuilt its infrastructure. New forms of transportation such as the steamboat and the railroad helped the nation expand trade. Meanwhile, innovations such as the modern assembly line and electric light bulb revolutionized both business and personal life.

Transportation

Water had long been used to power simple machines such as grain mills and textile spinners, but Scottish inventor James Watt's refinements to the steam engine in 1775 launched the revolution in earnest. Up until that point, such engines were crude, inefficient, and unreliable. Watt's first engines were used primarily to pump water and air into and out of mines.

With the development of more powerful, efficient engines which would operate under higher pressure and increased output, came newer, better forms of transportation. ​ Robert Fulton was an engineer and inventor who had become fascinated with Watt's engine while living in France at the turn of the 19th century. After several years of experimenting in Paris, he returned to the U.S. and launched the Clermont in 1807 on the Hudson River in New York. It was the first commercially viable steamboat line in the nation. ​​

As the nation's rivers began opening to navigation, commerce expanded along with the population. Another new form of transportation, the railroad, also relied on steam power to drive the locomotives. First in Britain and then in the U.S., rail lines began appearing in the 1820s. By 1869, the first transcontinental rail line linked the coasts.

If the 19th century belonged to steam, the 20th century belonged to the internal combustion engine. American inventor George Brayton, working on earlier innovations, developed the first liquid-fueled internal combustion engine in 1872. During the next two decades, German engineers including Karl Benz and Rudolf Diesel would make further innovations. By the time Henry Ford unveiled his Model T car in 1908, the internal combustion engine was poised to transform not just the nation's transportation system but also spur 20th-century industries like petroleum and aviation.

Communication

As the populations of both the U.K. and the U.S. expanded in the 1800s and America's boundaries pushed westward, new forms of communication that could cover great distances were invented to keep pace with this growth. One of the first significant inventions was the telegraph, perfected by Samuel Morse. He developed a series of dots and dashes that could be transmitted electrically in 1836; they came to be known as Morse Code, though it wouldn't be until 1844 that the first telegraph service opened, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

As the rail system expanded in the U.S., the telegraph followed along, literally. Rail depots doubled as telegraph stations, bringing news to the far-flung frontier. Telegraph signals began flowing between the U.S. and the U.K. in 1866 with Cyrus Field's first permanent transatlantic telegraph line. The following decade, Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell, working in the U.S. with Thomas Watson, patented the telephone in 1876.

Thomas Edison, who made a number of discoveries and innovations during the 1800s, contributed to the communications revolution by inventing the phonograph in 1876. The device used paper cylinders coated with wax to record sound. Records were first made of metal and later shellac. In Italy, Enrico Marconi made his first successful radio wave transmission in 1895, paving the way for the radio to be invented in the next century.

In 1794, the American industrialist Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. This device mechanized the process of removing seeds from cotton, something that had previously been done largely by hand. But what made Whitney's invention particularly special was its use of interchangeable parts. If one part broke, it could be easily replaced by another inexpensive, mass-produced copy. This made processing cotton cheaper, in turn creating new markets and wealth. Elijah McCoy, a mechanical engineer, filed more than 50 patents for various industrial inventions.

Although he did not invent the sewing machine, Elias Howe's refinements and patent in 1844 perfected the device. Working with Isaac Singer, Howe marketed the device to manufacturers and later consumers. The machine allowed for the mass production of clothing, expanding the nation's textile industry. It also made housework easier and allowed the growing middle class to indulge in hobbies like fashion.

But factory work-and home life-still were dependent upon sunlight and lamplight. It wasn't until electricity began being harnessed for commercial purposes that industry truly was revolutionized. Thomas Edison's invention of the electric light bulb in 1879 became the means by which large factories could be illuminated, extending shifts and increasing manufacturing output. It also spurred the creation of the nation's electrical grid, into which the many inventions of the 20th century from TVs to PCs would eventually plug.

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The Most Important Inventions of the Industrial Revolution

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Learn about some incredible innovations from the Industrial Revolution and how they transformed life in the U.S., the U.K., and the world.