Themes in World History: The Industrial Revolution (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Industrial Revolution notes.

Industrial Revolution (Britain)

Transformation of Britain’s economy and society from the 1780s to the 1820s–1850s, driven by new machinery, steam power, and the factory system.

First Industrial Revolution

Early phase of industrial change in Britain (roughly 1760–1820) focused on cotton, iron, coal, and new methods of production and transport.

Steam power

Use of steam engines to power machines and transport; made large-scale production possible and reduced reliance on water and human power.

Abraham Darby I

Ironmaster who developed coke-fired blast furnaces in 1709, enabling high-temperature iron production without charcoal.

Coke

Fuel produced from coal by removing impurities; allowed efficient high-temperature iron smelting in place of charcoal.

Puddling furnace

Henry Cort’s process (late 18th century) to refine pig iron into wrought iron, increasing quality and usefulness.

Rolling mill

Machine that shapes rolled iron into bars and other forms, expanding the range of iron products.

Abraham Darby II

Darby family member who developed wrought iron from pig iron, improving iron durability.

Iron Bridge (Coalbrookdale)

First iron bridge in the world (1779) across the Severn, built by the Darby family; symbol of iron industry.

Coal and iron basins

Geographic areas rich in coal and iron ore near ports that supported rapid industrial growth and shipbuilding.

Canals

Waterways (e.g., Worsley Canal, 1761) that lowered transport costs for coal and goods, spurring urban and industrial growth.

Canal Mania

Period (1788–1796) of intense canal-building to improve inland transport and distribution.

Cotton spinning Jenny

James Hargreaves’ invention that increased spinning output, accelerating the shift from cottage to factory spinning.

Water frame

Richard Arkwright’s water-powered spinning machine; foundational to factory-based cotton spinning.

Cotton spinning and weaving shift

Move from home-based weaving and spinning to factory-based production, with global cotton supplies and exports.

James Watt

Inventor whose improved steam engine (with Matthew Boulton) became the practical power source for factories.

Bank of England

Established in 1694; central bank financing industrial ventures and the expansion of provincial banks.

Enclosure

1780s process of consolidating small farms into large estates, displacing rural workers toward towns and cities.

Agricultural Revolution

Increased food production and productivity from improved farming and enclosure, contributing to urban migration.

Mines Act 1842

Legislation banning women and children under ten from working underground in mines.

Factory Acts

Series of laws regulating factory conditions and hours (e.g., 1819, 1833, 1847), with inspectors to enforce them.

Peterloo Massacre (1819)

Mass peaceful rally in Manchester brutally suppressed; highlighted demands for political reform and free press.

Luddism

Movement (1811–17) resisting mechanization; sought wages/rights and sometimes destroyed machinery.

Great Exhibition (1851)

Crystal Palace display in Hyde Park celebrating industrial progress and “Works of Industry of all Nations.”