Machines and Change: Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution investigates the transition to new manufacturing processes from the late 18th to mid-19th centuries, focusing on its profound social, economic, and technological impact worldwide. Originating in Britain, it introduced mechanized production, urbanization, and innovations like the steam engine, transforming economies, labor, and societies while creating both progress and new challenges globally.
Timeline of Industrial Revolution
This section outlines the key phases of the Industrial Revolution. Here’s the breakdown:
- First Industrial Revolution (1760s-1840s): Mechanization and early factory systems in Britain.
- Spread of Industrialization (1840s-1870s): Expansion to Europe, North America, and beyond.
- Second Industrial Revolution (1870s-1914): Advances in steel, electricity, and mass production.
- Global and Social Impact (1800s-1900s): Long-term effects on society, labor, and the environment.
Key Figures and Events
This section highlights the main individuals and pivotal moments that shaped this era:
- James Watt (1769): Improved the steam engine, powering factories and transportation.
- Spinning Jenny (1764): James Hargreaves’ invention revolutionized textile production.
- Eli Whitney (1793): Invented the cotton gin, boosting cotton production and slavery in the U.S.
- Factory Act of 1833 (Britain): Limited child labor, marking early labor reforms.
- Bessemer Process (1855): Henry Bessemer’s method made steel production faster and cheaper.
- First Transcontinental Railroad (1869): Connected the U.S., enhancing trade and migration.
Examples of Industrial Revolution
First Industrial Revolution (1760s-1840s) Examples
- The textile industry boomed with the spinning jenny and water frame in Britain.
- Steam-powered locomotives, like Stephenson’s Rocket (1829), revolutionized transport.
- The Bessemer Process made steel production faster and cheaper.
Spread of Industrialization (1840s-1870s) Examples
- France adopted mechanized weaving, growing its textile industry by the 1850s.
- The U.S. built canals, like the Erie Canal (1825), to transport industrial goods.
- Germany’s Ruhr Valley became a hub for coal and iron production in the 1860s.
Second Industrial Revolution (1870s-1914) Examples
- Edison’s light bulb (1879) and Tesla’s AC electricity (1880s) transformed daily life.
- The assembly line, pioneered by Henry Ford in 1913, mass-produced cars.
- Chemical industries grew, producing synthetic dyes and fertilizers like ammonia.
Global and Social Impact (1800s-1900s) Examples
- Urbanization led to crowded cities, like London, with slums and sanitation issues.
- The rise of labor unions, such as Britain’s Trade Union Congress (1868), fought for workers’ rights.
- Colonial economies shifted as industrial powers exploited resources, like India’s cotton.