What started the Industrial Revolution? Flashcards
Key features of Pre-Industrial Britian.
- Limited transport/limited communications
- Widespread illiteracy/lower classes were uneducated
- Harsh conditions /violent/ life was cruel for lower classes
upper classes lived in luxury - Many people were farmers. 50 - 80 % of population were farmers
- Goods were only sold in local areas.
Factors that lead to Industrial Revolution.
- Agricultural Revolution
- Raw Materials
- Wealthy middle class
- Cheap Labour
- Transport system
- Expanding economy
- Political stability
How did access to raw materials allow for Industrial Revolution?
Britain had large and accessible supplies of coal and iron - two of the most important raw materials used to produce the goods for the early Industrial Revolution. Also available was water power to fuel the new machines.
Why was coal so important?
- Cheaper alternative than wood fuel - produced more energy
- Coal provided the steam power needed to:
Mass-produce items
Generate electricity
Fuel steamships and trains that were necessary to transport trade items
Why was iron so important?
The availability of cheaper iron was fundamental for growth of several industries.
- New machine tools made precision iron working possible.
- Allowed for improved roadways, waterways and railways.
- Raw materials and finished products could be moved more quickly and cheaper than ever.
why was the agricultural revolution significant?
Overall, the Agricultural Revolution was significant because it led to increased food production, population growth, urbanization, and technological advancements. These developments were critical to the growth of the global economy and laid the foundation for modern agricultural practices. As agricultural productivity increased, fewer people were needed to work in agriculture. This led to a significant migration of people from rural areas to urban areas in search of work.
Why was cheap labour important?
Overall, cheap labor was critical to the success of the industrial revolution as it allowed for the mass production of goods, lowered production costs, and increased profits, all of which were essential to the growth of the economy. However, the exploitation of cheap labor was a significant issue, leading to poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours for workers.
Why was transport important?
In summary, transportation was essential to the success of the Industrial Revolution. It allowed for the efficient transportation of raw materials and goods, fuelled economic growth, and drove innovation in transportation technology.
Expanding Empire allow for Industrial Revolution
Colonies not only provided additional power and military advantages but allowed for access to materials.
Allowed access to a range of raw materials like timber, cotton, coal and gold.
- driving force behind the development of a range of industries in Europe.
What was capitalism?
Capitalism is an economic system where individuals or businesses own and operate the means of production and distribution of goods and services for profit. It is characterized by a free market, where prices are determined by supply and demand, and private property rights provide an incentive for individuals to invest and innovate. Critics argue that it can lead to inequality and exploitation, while supporters argue that it promotes competition, innovation, and economic growth.
What was the open field system?
The open-field system was the prevalent agricultural system in much of Europe during the Middle Ages. The open field system was the arrangement of peasant agriculture in northern Europe before the 20th century into scattered strips communally regulated but privately owned.
What was mass production?
The industrial technique to produce large quantities of similar products in constant flows on production lines.
Focuses on low-cost production by using standardized and repetitive processes to manufacture the same line of products.
What were the village common?
They were open spaces in towns and villages for communal activities.
What was the enclosed system?
The Enclosure Movement was a push in the 18th and 19th centuries to take land that had formerly been owned in common by all members of a village, or at least available to the public for grazing animals and growing food, and change it to privately owned land, usually with walls, fences or hedges around it
Why was the spread of steam power important?
The steam engine turned the wheels of mechanized factory production.
freed manufacturers from the need to locate their factories on or near sources of water power. Large enterprises began to concentrate in rapidly growing industrial cities.
Steam power became the energy source for many machines and vehicles
made it cheaper and easier to produce commodities in large amounts.
