New Technology during the Industrial Revolution

Many technological changes were

made during the Industrial
Revolution in Europe. First, James
Watts created a new machine
called the Steam Engine. The
steam engine ran on coal, the
powerful natural resource found
all over Britain. The steam engine
provided the energy machines
needed to operate. New machines
led to new jobs, urbanization, and
production of larger quantities (larger amounts) of goods. The
steam engine would also lead to faster transportation inventions,
such as the locomotive and steam ship. These inventions led to the
quicker transportation of people and goods.
In 1856, a British scientist developed a way to purify iron and make it
stronger. This new metal was steel. Steel was lighter, stronger, and
lasted longer than iron. The invention of steel made iron cheaper,
which led to more factory owners being able to purchase iron for their
machines. Steel would eventually be used to create large, heavy
structures, such as bridges, railroads, and skyscrapers.
In the science field, a major change occurred in medicine. Chemists
(scientists) created hundreds of new
products, such as aspirin, soap, and
perfumes, Aspirin was used to treat
body ailments (diseases), and relieve
pain or discomfort. Perfume and soaps
were used to keep the body clean and
looking and smelling good. This was
especially important, since many
women coming home from the
factories did not look so womanly as
they were expected to. Another
chemist, Alfred Noble, created dynamite. Dynamite was an explosive
that could be controlled. People were now able to determine when an
explosive would go off by the push of a button. Dynamite was used to
blow up walls in mines, which led to more areas with natural
resources. Dynamite would be used as a deadly weapons in future
wars.
In the 1800s, a new power source, electricity, replaced candlelight and
steam power. Candles were a fire risk, as they could easily be

knocked down. Steam made breathing conditions difficult at times,

and required large amounts of coal. Electivity began with the creation
of the first battery. Thomas Edison made the first electric light bulb in
1870. Batteries contained power to operate machines, and were small
and not dangerous. Electricity improved lighting conditions in homes
and jobs, which led to a decrease amount of
accidents in the factory. Additionally, electricity
did not need coal to operate, which began to
get depleted (diminished) by the mid-1800s.
By 1890s, lights illuminated (brightened) city
streets, and for the first time, night shifts began
at places of employment.
Changes also took place in the factories. The
assembly line was introduced in 1910. Workers
on an assembly line added parts to a product
that moves along a belt from one workstation to
the next. The assembly line made work production quicker, cheaper,
and required less skills from workers
Other new inventions were in the field of communication. A radio was
invented, and was able to transmit news and emergency
announcements throughout the country without having to hear and
see a person in person. Samuel Morse created telegraph lines, which
allowed people to send messages across the seas using wires. By
1876, Alexander Graham Bell created the first telephone, which
allowed communication across countries and oceans.
Still today, the Industrial Revolution remains one of the most
successful time periods for change, inventions, technology and
creations.

Part 1 Complete the chart with at least EIGHT EXAMPLES.

New Changes, Technology, and Discoveries during the
Industrial Revolution
Invention / Discovery
society? Why?
Radio

Did this invention improve

Yes - Improved communication

Part 2 Answer the following question in a response of AT LEAST

ELEVEN SENTENCES
1) What were some changes that took place during the Industrial
Revolution? Be sure to describe the invention and change in detail. In
your opinion, did each of these changes improve society or worsen it?
Why?
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