Industrial Revolution

The shift from agriculture to industrialism

This included the following: people began to work any times that their boss needed them, instead of the hours of daylight. People became specialized, being good at one specific thing, instead of the Jack-of-all-trades farmers. Instead of villages and cottages, cities formed.

Enclosure

When the government takes over and fences off land formerly owned by peasants.

The population change as a result of the industrial revolution

This exploded, creating bigger farms (which helped fight famine) and more workers, to tend the farms.

Coal

This was used for energy, which helped Thomas Newcomen develop the steam engine, later to be improved by James Watt.

Iron

This was used in the Industrial Revolution, and modified when Abraham Darby invented smelting and was able to extract this from the ore, making it cheaper and better quality.

Why did the Industrial Revolution start in Britain?

Resources, Economics, and Political and Social Conditions

What resources did Britain have that encouraged the start of the Industrial Revolution?

Coal and Iron