Introduction – What Was the Industrial Revolution?

• The Industrial Revolution (1750–1850) was a period of rapid technological and economic change.
• Factories replaced hand-made goods, and machines increased production.
• Started in Britain and spread to Europe, North America, and beyond.

Causes of the Industrial Revolution

Several factors contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Britain before spreading elsewhere.

Agricultural Revolution (Pre-Industrial Changes)

• New farming techniques (crop rotation, seed drill) increased food production.
• More food meant population growth, leading to more workers for factories.

Technological Innovations

• Invention of steam engines, spinning machines, and power looms revolutionized production.
• Coal and iron became key resources for factories and transportation.

Economic Factors

• Britain had a strong banking system to finance new factories.
• Wealthy entrepreneurs invested in industrial projects.

Geographic Advantages

• Britain had rivers and ports for easy transport of goods.
• Large coal and iron reserves fueled machines and construction.

Major Technological Innovations

New machines transformed industries, making production faster and cheaper.

Key Inventions of the Industrial Revolution

The Factory System – Changes in Work and Production

• Factories replaced small-scale workshops and home-based industries.
• Work shifted from rural homes to urban factories.

Features of the Factory System

• Machines replaced manual labor, increasing productivity.
• Factories operated for long hours under strict supervision.
• Workers specialized in tasks, making production more efficient.

Urbanization – Growth of Industrial Cities

Industrialization led to rapid migration from villages to cities.

Key Features of Urbanization

• Cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and London grew rapidly.
• Overcrowded housing and poor sanitation led to disease outbreaks.
• Slums developed, as factory wages were low.

Impact on Society – Changes in Class Structure

The Industrial Revolution reshaped the social order.

New Social Classes

• Industrial Middle Class (Bourgeoisie) – Factory owners, merchants, and bankers became wealthy.
• Working Class (Proletariat) – Poor factory workers lived in harsh conditions.
• Child and Women Labor – Paid lower wages and worked long hours.

The Role of Women and Children in Industry

Women and children were exploited as cheap labor in factories and mines.

Working Conditions

• Worked 12–16 hours a day in dangerous conditions.
• Paid much less than men for the same work.
• Child labor was common in textile and coal industries.

Changes in Transportation – Railways, Steamships, and Roads

New transport methods helped move raw materials and goods faster.

Key Transport Innovations

• Steam Locomotive (George Stephenson, 1814) – Allowed faster movement of goods and people.
• Steamships (Robert Fulton, 1807) – Improved overseas trade and colonization.
• Macadam Roads (John McAdam, 1820s) – Made roads smoother and more durable.

Spread of Industrialization Beyond Britain

Industrialization spread from Britain to Europe, the US, and Japan.

Industrial Growth in Other Countries

• Germany and France – Developed steel and railway industries.
• USA – Became a leader in mass production (Henry Ford’s assembly line).
• Japan (Meiji Restoration, 1868) – Rapid industrialization to compete with Western powers.

Environmental and Health Consequences

Industrialization had severe environmental and health impacts.

Environmental Damage

• Air and water pollution from factories.
• Deforestation for factories and railroads.
• Coal burning caused respiratory diseases.

Public Health Issues

• Overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions in cities.
• Frequent disease outbreaks (cholera, tuberculosis).
• Unsafe working conditions in mines and factories.

Reforms and Social Movements

As factory conditions worsened, governments introduced labor laws and social reforms.

Key Reforms in Industrial Societies

• Factory Act (1833, Britain) – Limited child labor and improved working hours.
• Ten Hours Act (1847, Britain) – Reduced women and children’s work hours.
• Trade Unions – Workers organized for better wages and conditions.
• Socialist Movements – Thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels criticized capitalism and proposed socialism.

The Long-Term Impact of the Industrial Revolution

Conclusion

• The Industrial Revolution (1750–1850) marked the shift from agrarian to industrial economies.
• It began in Britain due to agricultural, technological, and economic factors.
• Factories, machines, and mass production increased efficiency and economic growth.
• Urbanization led to overcrowded cities and poor working conditions.
• Industrialization spread to Europe, the US, and Japan.
• Transport and communication improved with railways, steamships, and telegraphs.
• Environmental pollution and labor exploitation led to social reform movements.
• The revolution shaped modern industries, societies, and global economies.