Resources and Technological Advances

With an abundance of natural resources like coal and ore, and the domestic development of the steam engine, England started the Industrial Revolution. Innovations in the cotton textile, iron, and steel industries caused the Industrial Revolution to spread to Western Europe and the United States. Europe didn't have all the resources it needed and with industrialization came an increased demand for raw materials from the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

For the majority of people living in England, life changed dramatically as available agricultural land diminished with the enclosure movement, and job opportunities disappeared with the demise of cottage industries. In light of these events, people moved to the cities to try and find work in the new factories.

Spinning Mule - machine used to spin cotton and other fibere

Other new inventions contributed to the Industrial Revolution like Hargreaves’ spinning jenny, Watt’s steam engine, Whitney’s cotton gin, and the Bessemer Process. At the same time, a number of advancements were also made in science with Jenner’s development of the smallpox vaccination and Pasteur’s discovery of bacteria. These advancements, and increased food production as a result of the Agricultural Revolution, resulted in a population explosion.

The Industrial Revolution had a dramatic impact both good and bad on the world including: increased standard of living for many but not all, improved transportation, urbanization, greater environmental pollution, increased education, and the growth of the middle class.

In the next topic, you'll look at how the dissatisfaction of factory workers with working conditions led them to form labor unions in order to struggle for their rights.