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The Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

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Why the Industrial Revolution Began in England
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The Industrial Revolution was the transition from small cottage industries in which
goods were mostly made by hand to new, mass-produced goods in factories using steam
and water power.

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain (or England) around 1760 and many
of the early technological innovations happened there. Textiles were the dominant
industry of the early Industrial Revolution. The textile industry was also the
first to use modern production methods. The Industrial Revolution marked a major
turning point in history and almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in
some way.

There are several important reasons why the Industrial Revolution began in Great
Britain.

Inventions and Innovations

One of the most important reasons the Industrial Revolution began in England was
that many of the most important inventions and innovations that powered the
revolution were created there.

Initial developments occurred in the cotton industry with the development of the
spinning jenny, water frame, and spinning mule.

Factory in the Industrial Revolution

The spinning jenny was invented in England in 1764 by James Hargreaves. The device
reduced the amount of work needed to produce cloth, with a worker able to work 8 or
more spools at once.

Richard Arkwright invented the water-powered water frame, which produced stronger
yarn than that of the spinning jenny.

Samuel Crompton combined them to create the spinning mule, a machine that
revolutionized the industry worldwide. The mule was the most common spinning
machine from 1790 until about 1900 and was used for fine yarns as late as the
1980s.

James Watt developed perhaps the most important invention of the era with his steam
engine. He improved on Thomas Newcomen’s 1712 steam engine with his design in 1776.
This engine was more powerful and efficient and was soon powering machines in
factories as well as steamships at sea and locomotives on rails.

Other industries also benefited from industrialization. Innovations included a new

steel making processes by Henry Bessemer, mass-production, assembly lines,
electrical grid systems, and other advanced machinery in steam-powered factories.

An Agricultural Revolution
England had been an agricultural nation for centuries. Crop rotation techniques had
improved over that period allowing soil to remain more fertile and growing outputs
increased. Farmers also experimented with livestock breeding by allowing only their
largest animals to breed. This resulted in larger, healthier cattle and lamb.

Enclosure Movement in England

In the 1700’s, wealthy landowners bought up smaller farms, combined them, and
enclosed their land with fences. This "enclosure movement" led to more productive
farming and greater crop yields.
However, this also meant many small farmers lost their livelihoods. Often, these
displaced men and women moved to cities to work in the new factories.

Natural Resources
Another major reason why the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain was that
it had an abundant supply of what economists call the three "factors of
production". These factors of production are land, labor, and capital. These
describe the inputs used in the production of goods or services in order to make an
economic profit.

Land in this sense is not just open land for industry to build on. It also means
the natural resources needed for industrialization. Coal was needed in vast
quantities for the Industrial Revolution to fuel steam engines and furnaces. Iron
ore was necessary for machines, buildings, and bridges. England had an abundance of
both as well has rivers for inland transportation.

Labor represents a large workforce for the industries. With a booming population
from higher food production and the enclosure movement pushing people to cities,
England’s industries had more than enough workers. Finally, capitol is the money
needed to fund industry. Great Britain's well-developed banking system allowed for
loans to invest in industries to help them succeed.

A Stable Government and Economy

Finally, the Industrial Revolution flourished in Great Britain for political
reasons. While England was often at war, all of these conflicts took place outside
of the country. As a result, life in the country was relatively peaceful.

The last major political upheaval was the Glorious Revolution in 1688. A period of
peace and stability followed when other nations were undergoing revolutions or
political changes.

Additionally, 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.

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on England

The Industrial Revolution led to an unprecedented population growth. England's
population grew 280% between 1550 and 1820. The rest of Western Europe only grew
50-80%.

Additionally, Great Britain became the world’s leading commercial nation,

controlling a global trading empire with colonies in North America and the
Caribbean, and with political influence on the Indian subcontinent.
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The Industrial revolution (1760-1840)

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Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by

1. Background
2. Factors Responsible for the Industrial Revolution
2.1 Technological Advances
2.2 Political Factors
2.3. Economic Affairs
2.4 Social and Cultural Factors
2.5 England as the First Site of Industrial Revolution
3. Impact of the Industrial Revolution
3.1 Unplanned Urbanisation
3.2 Growth of Railways
3.3 Colonialism
3.4 Agriculture Revolution
3.5 Transport Revolution
3.6 Growth of Workers Union
3.7 Ethics of Consumerism
4. Impact of the Industrial Revolution in India
5. Summary
6. Multiple Choice Question
1. Background
Towards the end of the medieval era, feudalism was on decline as a model of
economic system. It was because of the ideas of Renaissance and the increased
growth in trade and the rise of the n ew towns and cities which stimulated the
production of the manufactured goods.

The traditional methods also proved to be futile in fulfilling the demands of the
people. Consequently, in the latter half of the 18th century, on this background
there began a series of changes that revolutionised the production techniques and
organisation. The term ‘Industrial Revolution’ was used to describe these
developments in the production models, which were rapid and had far-reaching
effects on the society.

The Industrial revolution primarily began from the textile sector in the 1760s but
soon spread, during the 19th century, to other sectors of the British economy like
the Iron & steel sector and other consumer goods. The 19th century also saw its
spreads to other parts of Europe, e.g. France, Prussia, the USA &Japan, which
marked the second phase of the industrial revolution. It, however, took almost a
century to bring a complete change in the methods of mass production.

Many people also were of the view that though the Industrial revolution had
profound consequences for the social, political and economic global order; it was
more of a revolutionary idea (gradual change) than are evolutionary one.

Industrial revolution
2. Factors Responsible for the Industrial Revolution
2.1 Technological Advances
The machines began to take over some of the work of men and animals in the
production of goods and commodities, and due to this reason the Industrial
Revolution came to be known as the beginning of a ‘machine age’.

The new machines such as the steam engine came to be increasingly used in the
factory system in place of manual power and simple tools. This made it possible to
produce goods on a huge scale.

Further, the invention of power loom made it possible for England to produce a more
delicate and cheaper thread than that could be produced with older techniques. The
cotton Gin also could now separate the seeds from cotton over three hundred times
faster than that by hand.

With the increasing benefits of the machines, their demand also grew and the blast
furnaces became busier. The invention of the blast furnace and later the methods of
turning the low-grade iron into steel meant that now the English industries could
produce steel at a much cheaper cost. Further, the presence of large amount of iron
and steel in the country itself contributed to the rise of industries in England.
2.2 Political Factors
Politically, Britain’s colonial expansionist policies provided an assured market
for the goods produced in the England. This aided the rise of the British
capitalist class, apart from providing an assured supply of raw materials. The
British political policies also emphasised the rule of law, the right to property
and a Laissez-faire approach, ensuring a safe political environment for the rise of
Industries. Such favourable political factors were missing in South Asia and China
with their largely monarchical set-up and little emphasis on the rule of law or
right to property.

2.3. Economic Affairs

Europe and primarily Britain dealt with a high cost of labour which was often ten
times higher than its South Asian counterpart. This increased production cost and
forced them to look for methods to increase the labour productivity, including
mechanisation. However, such push factors were not visible in South Asia or China
where an abundant cheap supply of labour and raw materials was present. On the
other side, with its ample supply of cheap good quality coal near the surface,
Britain also had an assured supply of energy sources critical for the industrial
revolution.

2.4 Social and Cultural Factors

The enlightenment thinking often focused upon the rationality and reason to pursue
material growth as an end in itself. However, South Asia saw the rise of several
culture or religions which emphasised the otherworldly beliefs. For instance, with
its emphasis on Confucianism, the Chinese society emphasised textual knowledge and
competence over the material growth.

These ideas acted as a bedrock for the technologically growth in Britain in some or
the other ways.

2.5 England as the First Site of Industrial Revolution

Due to the existence of several specific geographical and political factors, the
18th century England was most favourably placed for an industrial revolution.

Through overseas trade, including the trade in slaves, the Kingdom of Britain had
accumulated vast profits, which could provide the necessary capital to finance such
ventures. In the trade rivalries of European countries also, England had emerged as
a winner. It had acquired colonies all over the world that ensured a regular supply
of raw materials.

Further, after the disappearance of the serfdom system, people were no longer tied
to the land and master. They were free to do any job they could find. In the
enclosure movement during the 18th century, the big land-owners consolidated their
land-holdings while small peasants were ousted. This created a situation of
unemployment on a vast scale; however, there was no shortage of labour to work in
the factories.

As a result of the revolution of the 17th century, a stable system of government

had been established. The government was no longer under the domination of the
feudal classes. The capitalist class acquired more political power and the danger
of government interference was significantly reduced.

England also had plenty of natural resources, such as iron and coal, essential for
the industries. This saved England from many difficulties which the other regions
faced. By the 18th century, England had developed a large shipping industry and had
no transportation problem.

During those times, no other country enjoyed all these advantages at the time.
While some regions suffered from a lack of capital or natural resources, others had
an unfavourable political system. Many of the European countries had agrarian
economies and lived under traditional political systems. Some regions like Italy
and Germany were not even united and suffered from many economic restrictions.

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3. Impact of the Industrial Revolution
3.1 Unplanned Urbanisation
An immediate consequence of the rise of the new industrial sector in Britain was
that it gave a significant push to the new urban centres. However, this form of
urbanisation was predominantly unplanned and marked by the proliferation of slums,
lack of safe water supply, sanitation, and air pollution. All this negatively
affected the standard of living in these urban industrial centres, even though the
production of consumer commodities increased significantly.

3.2 Growth of Railways

The growth of industrialisation in Britain also witnessed a rapid expansion of the
Railway network as a chief instrument to transport the goods and raw materials
cheaply over long distances. By 1860, Britain had a 6000-mile long Railway network.
Moreover, the spread of the industrial revolution resulted in the rapid rise in the
Railway network across major industrial economies as well.

3.3 Colonialism
The colonial rivalry and search for colonies intensified during the 1850s and 1900
between the major European powers such as Britain, France, Italy, Germany and even
among the emerging Asian countries like Japan in search of an assured market for
their industrial economies.

3.4 Agriculture Revolution

During the industrial revolution, several changes were brought in the agriculture
sector. The cropping pattern, methods of sowing and harvesting were altogether
changed. Consequently, the food production increased and the cash crops now
provided essential raw materials for industries.

New farm machine was also invented. It included the steel plough and harrow for
breaking the ground, the mechanical drill for seeding and the horse-drawn
cultivator to replace the traditional hoe. There were machines for reaping and
threshing too.

3.5 Transport Revolution

The need to transport raw materials and manufactured products led to the
improvement of roads and digging of canals in England and other countries. Mc Adam
devised the method of making pakka or ‘macadamized’ roads. The canals were also
come out to be a big help in providing cheaper transportation, especially after
steamboats came into use.

3.6 Growth of Workers Union

Politically, a major push was seen towards the rise of the militant trade unionism.
The working class rose in protest against the low wages, long work hours and the
absence of pensions. The working class also demanded political voting rights in
Britain from 1830s onwards with the beginning of the Chartist movement.
3.7 Ethics of Consumerism
The industrial revolution gave a boost to the ethics of consumerism and upheld it
as a valuable social ideal that was respected in the western societies.

4. Impact of the Industrial Revolution in India

Before the beginning of the industrial revolution, India used to shine in the world
chart for its cotton textile industry. Its cloth used to get exported to different
parts of the world, including today’s Europe, America and the Middle East etc.
India is documented to have dominated the world’s cotton textile markets during the
1750s, as the production was of high quality and low price. It is not a matter of
surprise that at the end of the 17th century, Indian calicoes were popular in
Britain too. However, things changed after the industrial revolution.

The discovery of steam power and its industrial use from the year 1815 onwards
created a threat to the Indian textile industry. The spinning mule and power loom
became more efficient and effective because of the steam power. It reduced the cost
of British cotton by 85% and made it internationally competitive. Consequently, by
the year 1820, Britain became the leading producer of cloth in the world.

Image: Women working on machines

However, the industrial revolution was not without severe consequences for the
society. Farmers were now forced to grow cash crops in place of food crops.
Eventually, this resulted in awfully deadly famines in the subcontinent.

In the industrial sector, to increase the production, the factory owners used to
hire unskilled labour, particularly women and children, to run the machine. At the
tender age of 6 years, many children were already working 14 hours a day in
factories.

As a result of the industrial revolution, the urban cities also started getting
overcrowded day by day.

However, there were some positive effects of the industrial revolution as well in
the society. The introduction of the assembly line, usage of electricity and the
development of railroads etc., contributed to a faster and more economical
production of goods. The fund for schools and the enactment of child labour laws
also came into place eventually.

The industrial revolution also enhanced both economic production and the new
lifestyle of the common people. It introduced modernity to a traditional society.
Over the period, the impact of the industrial revolution has not faded and only
become more pronounced as we move ahead.

To sum up, in the words of Karl Marx,

“The treasures captured outside Europe by undisguised looting, enslavement, and

murders floated back to the mother country and were turned into capital.”

5. Summary
The industrial revolution began in the late 1760s marks an astonishing change in
the patterns of production as well as the socio-economic and political structure of
our society. It replaced the age of hand to the age of machines whereby handlooms
and steam engines aided the mass production of goods and services.

However, though at one stance it helped the people with the introduction of
railways and revolutions in the patterns of transportation and agriculture, on the
other hand, it led to unplanned urbanisation and paved way for the forces of
colonisation and imperialism to occur as the goods produced needs a large scale
market to sell them at profitable prices.

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Includes Previous Year Questions
PYQ Analysis
Plenty of Maps, Images for Illustration
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6. Multiple Choice Question
1] The industrial revolution shifts the production process to:
a) Machine made mass production
b) Hand made goods
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above

Show Answer
2] The British government adopted which model of growth:
a) Lassiez faire policy
b) State controlled
c) Mixed economic model
d) None of the above

Show Answer
3] The policies adopted by the British political parties during the age of
industrial revolution includes:
a) Rule of law
b) Right to property
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above

Show Answer
4] What impacts does the industrial revolution posed on the agriculture sector:
a) Boosted production of cash crops
b) Achieving self-reliance in food
c) Degraded production quality
d) Old methodologies of production were restored.

Show Answer

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