Industrial Revolution Flashcards

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Revolution

A fundamental change in the way goods were made for sale, shifting from handmade to machine-made.

Agricultural Revolution

An increase in food supply which provided more disposable income for purchasing manufactured goods.

Entrepreneurs

People who invest in new manufacturing methods and businesses, pivotal to the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Corn Laws

Laws that imposed tariffs on imported grain, repealed to allow cheaper grain imports, leading to urban migration.

Mineral resources

Natural resources like coal and iron ore that were abundant in Britain and essential for industrialization.

Great Exhibition

An international fair held in 1851 to showcase Britain's industrial achievements, featuring the Crystal Palace.

Spinning jenny

A machine invented by James Hargraves in 1764 that made textile production faster and cheaper.

Steam engine

An engine developed by James Watt in 1769 that used steam power to drive machinery, crucial for factories.

Quentin Canal

A canal constructed in France that connected Paris with coal and iron fields, aiding in transportation.

Irish Potato Famine

A devastating famine in the mid-1840s caused by potato blight, leading to mass starvation and emigration.

Primitive agriculture

A traditional farming method that persisted in regions that did not industrialize, leading to economic challenges.

Serfdom

A system where peasants were tied to the land they worked; abolished but still left many landless and poor.