Industrial Revolution 2024

Timeline: Begins mid-1700s in Britain and spreads worldwide.
Pre-Revolution Life:
- Many lived in small cottages without electricity.
- Self-sufficient: Lived off land, used handheld tools, and made own clothing.
- Weekly markets for goods exchange.
- Limited knowledge of the world outside their own community.

Yield Improvements (1700-1850): Increased by 300% due to several innovations:
- Earthen walls: Improved crop protection and farming efficiency.
- Fertilizers and turnips: Enhanced soil fertility.
- Crop journals: Organized farming practices.
- Crop rotation: Increased soil productivity.
- Seed drill: Allowed for precise planting.
- Land Enclosures:
  - Consolidation of previously shared land by peasant farmers.
  - Originally was communal all people could allow animals to graze etc. (imagine a quilt irregular shaped patches)
  - After the enclosures, many small farmers lost their access to land, forcing them to either seek work in urban centers or face poverty as agricultural practices became more industrialized.
  - Also was now privately own, fenced off
  - Increased pasture land for sheep leading to more wool and food outputs.
  - Displaced many small farmers to cities.
  - Enclosures marked wealth of landowners.

Population Growth:
- Britain: 5 million in 1700 to 9 million in 1800.
- Europe: 120 million in 1700 to 180 million in 1800.
Reasons for Growth:
- Agricultural advancements reduced famine risk.
- Nutritional improvements led to better health.
- Enhanced hygiene, sanitation, and medical care.
Urbanization: Industrialization spurred city growth around factories, boosting job opportunities.

Technological Advances: New energy sources enabled significant changes in work.
- Coal: Utilized by Thomas Newcomen to create the steam engine for pumping water.
- James Watt: Improved steam engines for machines, locomotives, and steamships.
Iron Production: Coal became the primary fuel source, resulting in mass production of iron for infrastructure.

Population Increase: Provided labor force.
Natural Resources:
- Ports for trade and rivers for power.
- Development of canals promoted trade.
- Abundant coal and iron supported machinery.
Stable Economy:
- Slave trade and increased trade expanded business capital.
- Rise of entrepreneurs investing in industries such as mining and railroads.
Supportive Government: Stability encouraged economic growth.
Strong Navy: Protected empire and supported overseas trade.

Historical Context:
- Cotton imports from India began in the 1600s.
- The "putting-out" system facilitated home production (cottage industry):
  1. Raw cotton spun into thread.
  2. Woven into cloth.
  3. Finished and dyed by artisans.
Challenges: Slow production led to the decline of cottage industry by mid-1700s.

New Manufacturing Needs: Machines required larger spaces than homes.
Factory Development:
- Initially located near water sources.
- Transitioned to steam engines powered by coal.
Employment Shift: Spinners and weavers moved to factories.

Comparison:
- Location: Production at home vs. factory.
- Ownership of Tools: Personal hand tools vs. large machines owned by capitalists.
- Production Scale: Small output for local markets vs. large output for global markets.
- Nature of Work: Worker-assembled items vs. division of labor in factories.
- Work Hours: Flexible hours at home vs. regulated hours in factories.
- Dependency: Independent sustenance vs. reliance on capitalist employers.

Key Innovations:
- John Kay: Flying shuttle (1733) increased weaving speed.
- James Hargreaves: Spinning jenny (1765) spun thread eight times faster.
- Richard Arkwright: Water frame (1769) brought water-powered spinning to factories.

Further Innovations:
- Samuel Crompton: Spinning mule (1779) combined spinning jenny and water frame.
- Power Loom (1785): Revolutionized weaving process.
- Eli Whitney: Cotton gin (1793) increased cotton supply while lowering costs.
- Elias Howe: Sewing machine (1846) greatly sped up sewing.

Need for Efficient Movement: Increased production demanded faster, cheaper transportation of goods.
- Turnpikes: Private roads charging tolls.
- Canals: Linked inland towns to coastal ports.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Stronger bridges and upgraded harbors.
- Locomotives: Offered faster transportation of products.

Before Industrial Revolution: Canal barges, sailing ships, horse-drawn vehicles.
After Industrial Revolution: Emergence of trains, steamships, trolleys, and automobiles.
- The Rocket: Early locomotive that showcased advanced speed and design capabilities, measuring significant growth in locomotive engineering.

Urbanization:
- Mass movement of people to cities due to agricultural changes and industrial employment opportunities.

Industrial Middle Class: Benefited from the Revolution; became entrepreneurs.
Industrial Working Class: Experienced overcrowding and lived in tenements due to population growth.

Labor Challenges:
- Despite illegal status, secret labor unions formed advocating for reforms.
- Luddites: Group protesting machines that threatened their jobs by smashing textile machines.
- Religion gained popularity as an avenue for hope toward a better life.

Harsh Conditions:
- Long hours (12-14 per day, six days a week).
- Dangerous factory conditions resulted in injuries.
- Mining hazards: dust inhalation, explosions, flooding, collapsing tunnels, and children employed under risky conditions.

Negative Outcomes:
- Overpopulation and crowded cities.
- Pollution and poor working conditions.
- Low pay and substandard living conditions.
Positive Outcomes:
- Mass production of goods.
- Job creation and improved working hours.
- Factory Acts led to better conditions.
- Legalization of labor unions.
- Rise in living standards for the working class.