The Industrial Revolution

Flashcards about the Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution Definition

The process by which states transition from primarily agrarian economies to industrial economies.

Goods Transition Definition

A transition in which goods for sale went from being made by hand to being made by machines.

Where did the Industrial Revolution start?

Great Britain around 1750.

What are the seven factors that explain why the Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain?

Proximity to waterways, geographical distribution of coal and iron, abundant access to foreign resources, improved agricultural productivity, rapid urbanization, legal protection of private property, and the accumulation of capital.

What was the importance of Great Britain's waterways?

Enabled the efficient and rapid transportation of manufactured goods to various markets.

What was the importance of coal power in Britain?

Led to Britain's increased efficiency in the production of iron, which they used to construct bridges and machines and railroads.

What resources did Britain gain access to through their maritime empire?

North American colonies provided timber in abundance, and they exploited their holdings in India for cotton.

What was the agricultural revolution in Britain?

The amount of food grown on farms increased significantly due to improved methods of planting like crop rotation and new technologies like the seed drill.

What is rapid urbanization?

People moved from rural areas to urban centers in search of work in industrial manufacturing hubs.

What was the legal protection of private property in Britain?

Laws protecting entrepreneurs who took risks to start and build new businesses in the manufacturing sector.

What was the accumulation of capital in Britain?

Wealth gains through the Atlantic slave trade

What is a factory?

A place where goods for sale were mass produced by machines.

What was the first iteration of the factory system?

Concentrated production in a single location and was powered by moving water, thanks to the invention of the water frame.

What was the specialization of labor?

Workers were more like interchangeable cogs performing one action over and over again, and that meant they were easily replaced.