ENGLAND - THE CRADLE OF THE

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Do you feel confident in your knowledge of contemporary history? Let's take a

look at one of humanity's greatest periods of development: The Industrial Revolution.

BACKGROUND AND BEGINNING

All started around the year 1760 in England. The Industrial Revolution marked

the shift from smaller family cottage industries where most things were made by hand,

to modern mass-produced products in factories powered by steam and water. The

adoption of contemporary production techniques began with the textile sector. Nearly

all facets of daily life were impacted in some manner by the Industrial Revolution, which

was a significant turning point in history.

GREAT INNOVATIONS

The spinning jenny, the water frame, and the spinning mule were among the

first innovations in the cotton business. James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny

at Stanhill, England, in 1764. The machine allowed a worker to handle eight or more

spools at once, which lowered the amount of labor required to create cloth. 

The water-powered water frame, developed by Richard Arkwright, generated

yarn that was sturdier and more durable than that of the original spinning jenny. The

spinning mule, a device that revolutionized the industry all over the world, was created

by Samuel Crompton by combining the spinning jenny and water frame. From 1790 to

ENGLAND - THE CRADLE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

around 1900, the mule was the most popular spinning device, and beautiful yarns were

still spun on it up until the early 1980s.

James Watt invented the steam engine, which is arguably the most

significant technology of the time. In 1776, he created the ‘Watt Steam Engine’, an

advancement over Thomas Newcomen's 1712 ‘Newcomen Steam Engine’. This engine

was more effective and potent, and it was quickly improved to power not only

steamships at sea but also machines in factories and locomotives on tracks.

AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

For generations, England has been an agricultural country. Crop rotation

methods had advanced throughout that time, allowing soil to remain more fertile and

increasing growth yields. Additionally, farmers experimented with cattle breeding by

limiting breeding to their largest animals. Larger, healthier cattle and lamb were

produced as a result. Wealthy landowners acquired lesser farms in the 1700s and

fenced in their larger parcels. Although the enclosure movement increased crop yields

and farming productivity, it also uprooted many small farmers. These people frequently

relocated to urban areas to work in the new factories.

REASONS WHY INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION STARTED

IN ENGLAND

The main reasons why the Industrial Revolution started in England is because

they had the supply of what economists refer to as the "three components of

production". These productive elements include land, labor, and capital. These are

used to characterize the inputs employed in the manufacturing of goods or services in

order to produce a profit.

ENGLAND - THE CRADLE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

 In this economic context, "land" refers to more than only arable land that can be

developed for industrial purposes. It also refers to the natural resources required for

industrialization. For the Industrial Revolution's steam engines and furnaces, massive

amounts of coal were required. Equipment, structures, and bridges all need iron ore.

Both were in great supply in England, which also had rivers for inland transportation.

The “Labor” makes up a sizable portion of the workforce. England's businesses

had more than enough labor thanks to a burgeoning population brought on by

increased food production and the enclosure movement, which drove people into the

cities. Finally, capital is the money required to finance industry. A loan could be used to

invest in an industry to support its growth thanks to Great Britain's well-developed

banking system.

STABLE ECONOMY

The political system of England encouraged trade and entrepreneurship. A

straightforward legal system allowed the formation of joint-stock companies, enforced

property rights, and respected patents for inventions.

POSITIVE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN

ENGLAND AND THE WORLD

The rate of population growth experienced an unheard-of increase as a result of

the Industrial Revolution. Britain's population increased by 280%, compared to a 50–

80% increase over the rest of Western Europe. In addition, Great Britain rose to

become the top commercial power in the globe, ruling a vast trading empire that

included colonies in North America and the Caribbean and political sway over the

Indian subcontinent.

ENGLAND - THE CRADLE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION