The

Industrial
Revolution
Elyse Borys
What is the Industrial Revolution?
Starting around the 1750s, society in Europe and America underwent a
signi cant period of development known as the Industrial Revolution.
The industrial revolution began in Europe, especially Britain and spread
to America and other parts of the world by the 1830s and 1840s.  During
this period the introduction of new machines and technologies powered
by James Watt's steam engines was a massive game-changer in the
economy. This included railroads and steamboats. Production of goods
could now occur at faster and cheaper rates thanks to the Industrial
Revolution.

Eurocentric reasons such as cultural superiority, and a culture of science,

inventions, and innovations led to the occurrence of the Industrial
Revolution in Europe. Their small populations also required labour-
saving inventions. Europe and British had two main advantages, their
large amounts of coal near the surface, and high wages. Their
combination of high wages and cheap fuel costs meant that it was

Definitions:
economically e cient for manufacturers to look towards machines for
cheaper production costs. Steam engines used cheap British coal, to keep
coal cheap, while cheap coal created an opportunity. Industrial Revolution: An
increase in production caused
Quote: by the large-scale use of
machinery, characterized by
“Wages were high and the use of new energy sources,
energy was cheap. These resulting in both economic
prices led directly to the and social changes. Occurred
Industrial revolution by especially in Great Britain
giving rms strong primarily during the 18th and
incentives to invent 19th centuries.
technologies that
substituted capital and coal Eurocentrism: The belief that
for labour”-Historian Europeans are superior to
Robert Allen.  others.
 Positive Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Society

The industrial revolution had many positive e ects on society. Such as:
-Increase in wealth, the production of goods, and the standard of living.
-People had access to healthier diets, better housing, and cheaper goods. 
-Education also increased during the Industrial Revolution. 
-Partly due to Edward Jenner’s invention of the smallpox vaccine and Louis Pasteur’s discovery of bacteria,
health care increased, and people began to live for longer.
-The Middle and upper classes bene tted immediately from the industrial revolution.
-During the 1800s workers formed labour unions and gained higher incomes and better working conditions.
This in turn led to more bene ts in the industrial revolution.
-The industrial revolution also sparked changes in society for women, as more started entering the workforce
for the rst time, and while they made less than men, they led reforms to change this. They also became more
involved in politics, and some began to demand su rage (right to vote). Eventually, they were granted this in the
1920s a er the passing of the 19th amendment. 
-Led to the growth of labour unions and reforms, as workers in the lower classes began to demand better
working conditions, higher wages, and fewer working hours. Unions engaged in collective bargaining as well as
negotiations between workers and employers.
 Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Society

The industrial revolution had many negative e ects on society. Such as:
-The shi from work being down at home by hand, to work being done in factories led to harsh and
unsafe working conditions in these early factories. 
-Machines posed a signi cant threat to worker’s lives.
Owners of mines and factories had considerable control over the lives of labourers who worked long
hours for low pay. 
-Many workers were fearful of losing their jobs, so they did not complain about low pay and poor working
conditions. 
-Owners of factories and mines would pay women and children less than men to work. This caused the
increase of child labour because it kept the costs low and the production high. 
-The working classes lived in poverty, while the bosses who made up the middle class grew wealthy.
Wealthy factory and mine owners were able to exploit working-class people.
The main negatives were poor working conditions, poor living conditions, low wages, child labour, and
pollution. 
Key Invention:
The Steam Engine and How it Transformed Society
Steam engines were created to solve the problem of ooding in
mines, as Europeans in the 17th century switched from wood to
coal as their main source of fuel. The rst steam-operated
machine was invented by a Spanish inventor who used his steam
engine to remove water from silver mines. Although the credit
of the rst steam engine typically goes to Thomas Savery, who
was an English engineer and inventor, who patented a machine
that could e ectively draw water from a ooded mine using
steam pressure. Savery developed a nearly continuous system
for pumping water out of mines, using two steam boilers.
However, it was soon discovered that his steam engine could
only draw water from shallow depths. Later, came another
Englishman, Thomas Newcomen who developed a better way to
pump water from mines. His redesigned version of the steam
engine eliminated the need for the steam pressure to
accumulate, however, the invention exploded due to a aw in
the system. Then came the invention that powered the Industrial
revolution. In 1765, James Watt a Scottish instrument maker
developed a new and important steam engine. He developed a
separate condenser that allowed the steam to be maintained at a
constant temperature which dramatically improved the
functionality and e ciency of the steam engine. Due to nancial
reasons, he could not immediately develop the steam engine,
however, this led to his partnership with Matthew Boulton an
English manufacturer and engineer. Boulton was determined to
use the steam engines for more than just pumping water out of
mines. Watt’s invention and Boulton’s vision lead to the
industrial revolution which was powered by steam. As the steam
engine was rapidly adopted by Europe and then the United
States, the steam engines were soon used to power mills,
factories, breweries, and other manufacturing operations.
An Inventor: James Watt
James Watt was a Scottish instrument maker, inventor, and
mechanical engineer. Famously known for his contributions to the
industrial revolution through his steam engine, James Watt was a vital
person in this era in time. Although he did not invent the original
steam engine, his improvements to the design increased its e ciency
lowering the cost of steam engines to run.

On January 19, 1736, James Watt was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire,

Scotland and passed away August 25, 1819, in Birmingham, Warwick,
England a er creating quite the legacy for himself. Growing up he
was not a healthy child which meant he was educated from home
most of his life. His father was a shipwright and a carpenter, so he
developed a love for making models and repairing instruments at an
early age. Watt moved to London to be an instrument maker
apprentice in 1755 and quickly mastered the cra in a year. When he
was 19 he moved to Glasgow and set up a business of his own, and was
quickly recognized as a high-quality engineer.

Later in life, he married his rst wife who gave birth to two of his
children and later died during childbirth in 1773. In 1776 he married
his second wife Ann and had a son and a daughter who died of
consumption before he died at the age of 83. James
James Watt
Watt 1736-1819
1736-1819

In 1765, he was hit with an idea on how to make the current steam "I
"I can
can think
think of
of nothing
nothing else
else than
than
engine more e cient, by using a separate chamber to condense steam this machine"
this machine"
without needing to cool the rest of the engine. This led to his -James
-James Watt
Watt
partnership with Matthew Boulton, who invested in the engine. The "It
"It is
is not
not worth
worth my my while
while to to
engine quickly became high in demand and could be used anywhere. manufacture in three countries
manufacture in three countries
only;
only; but
but II can
can nd
nd itit very
very
Not only did he create the steam engine which converted steam back worthwhile
worthwhile to make it for the
to make it for the
into the water, but he was also known for developing a rotary engine whole
whole world."
world."
which mechanized weaving, spinning and transport. As well as -Attributed
-Attributed quote
quote toto James
James Watt
Watt
inventing the rev counter, and the term horsepower.
The Role of the Industrial Revolution in
Promoting Globalism
The industrial revolution has led to large changes in the
economy, transport of goods, and the speed of production
all over the world. It led to a new innovative economy, which
became highly dependent on machinery. The creation of the
steam engine, which powered the industrial revolution, was
in high demand all over the world. This helped promote
globalization because it began the development and
dispersion of technology. While the industrial revolution
started in Europe, it quickly spread to places like America,
because they wanted to use this new innovative technology.

The industrial revolution led to advances in transport, and

telecommunications. As trade and communication
increased, so did globalization. The industrial revolution
sparked the promotion of globalization because through
these new technologies production rates increased leading to
more trade. These technologies also allowed for new ways of
transportation and communication, causing growth in
globalization. These machines and technologies, sparked
innovation, not only in Europe but all over the world. These
countries that were once oceans apart, became connected
through this new machinery, and massive changes to society
and economy. These shi s in societal rule and wealth
distribution led to the promotion of globalization. Countries
became dependent on developing or gaining new
technologies and machines that would increase production
rates. The industrial revolution held a special role in the
promotion of globalization because it opened up entirely
new windows of opportunities for countries and nations to
interact with one another. It changed the perspectives of
many countries, and how these places were governed,
economically structured, and wealthy.
 Sources
https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution

https://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution/industrial-revolution

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/acceleration/bhp-acceleration/v/bhp-industrial-revolution-crashcourse

https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/10599/Social%20E ects%20of%20the%20Industrial%20Revolution.pdf

https://www.historycrunch.com/negatives-of-the-industrial-revolution.html#/

https://www.livescience.com/44186-who-invented-the-steam-
engine.html#:~:text=In%201698%2C%20Thomas%20Savery%2C%20an, ooded%20mines%20using%20steam%20pressure

https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Watt

https://digital.nls.uk/scientists/biographies/james-watt/index.html

https://www.machinemetrics.com/blog/the-impact-of-globalization-and-industrialization