Birth of the Industrial Revolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts from the lecture on the Industrial Revolution, providing definitions and context for study.

Revolutions of the Past

Significant historical events that reshaped humanity's relationship with nature and society, including the control of fire and the Neolithic Revolution.

Selective Breeding

A practice that improved livestock during the Second Agricultural Revolution, leading to increased agricultural efficiency.

Enclosure Movement

The process in which landowners fenced off common lands, forcing peasants to migrate to cities due to decreased farming opportunities.

Factors of Production

Elements necessary for industrialization: Land (natural resources), Labor (human effort), Capital (human-made resources), and Entrepreneurship.

Cottage Industry

A system where cloth and other goods were produced at home, characterized by family-based work and artisanal skills.

Steam Engine

A machine invented by Thomas Newcomen that used steam pressure to power machinery, significantly improved by James Watt.

Child Labor

The employment of children in dangerous jobs, particularly in mining and factories, often for lower wages than adult workers.

Mass Production

The process of producing goods in large quantities using standardized methods, leading to lower costs and uniform products.

Luddite Movement

A protest movement against industrialization where workers destroyed machinery that they believed threatened their jobs.

Joint Stock Company

An innovative business model that pooled resources for large ventures, allowing multiple investors to share profits and risks.

Capitalism

An economic system prioritizing private ownership and individual profit over state control and communal wealth.

Industrial Revolution

The transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the US, from about 1760 to 1840, marked by the use of new machines and power sources.

Factory System

A method of manufacturing using machinery and division of labor, characterized by workers operating in a central facility.

Textile Industry Innovations

Advances like the spinning jenny and power loom that revolutionized cloth production, making it a driving force of the Industrial Revolution.

Urbanization

The rapid growth of cities as people migrated from rural areas to find work in factories during the Industrial Revolution.

Adam Smith

A Scottish economist and philosopher widely regarded as the 'Father of Capitalism' for his theories on free markets and the 'invisible hand.'