The Industrial Revolution in The UK , Europe and North America

The Industrial Revolution was important because it changed every aspect of life and business in The UK , Europe and North America. The Industrial Revolution began in the UK around the late 1700s and moved quickly throughout Europe. In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution took hold in America. One of the reasons that the Industrial Revolution started in the UK was because Britain has a vast supply of fuel; coal. The UK had a vast empire that spanned the globe; a large number of colonies that could provide the UK with the raw materials necessary for technology development and the manufacturing of finished products. As demand for goods increased, British merchants began seeking ways to achieve more cost-effective production, which led to a rise in mechanization and eventually industrialization.

The Industrial Revolution brought advances in technology, shipping, science, agriculture and construction. Additionally, as The UK became a major technologically-advanced centre of production and commerce, the economy grew in strength, and The UK became a wealthier country as a result. In agriculture, the Industrial Revolution gave rise to an increased demand for crops, as the population expanded rapidly. New technologies, including tools, machinery, techniques and fertilizers developed quickly, increasing crop yields and agricultural productivity. Before the Industrial Revolution, nobles owned land and the tenants worked the land, growing everything required to support themselves and their Lords. However, the Industrial Revolution brought change, and different areas and estates began to specialize in the crops or animals they farmed. For example, the East of England specialized in grain crops while Scotland focused on rearing cows and sheep. This led to increased commerce and economic diversity, increasing trade.

The increase in industry hugely increased foreign trade and introduced mass production, moving manufacturing away from handmade goods and cottage industries into large-scale factories. Technological innovations occurred rapidly, with improvements to existing technologies and brand-new technologies increasing the efficiency of production. The Industrial Revolution was important because it changed every aspect of life and business in The UK . With the birth of the Industrial Revolution, formerly rural areas quickly became urbanized hives of industry.

The Industrial Revolution brought advances in technology, shipping, science, agriculture and construction. Additionally, as The UK became a major technologically-advanced center of production and commerce, the economy grew in strength, and The UK became a wealthier country as a result. In agriculture, the Industrial Revolution gave rise to an increased demand for crops, as the population expanded rapidly. New technologies, including tools, machinery, techniques and fertilizers developed quickly, increasing crop yields and agricultural productivity. Before the Industrial Revolution, nobles owned land and the tenants worked the land, growing everything required to support themselves and their Lords. However, the Industrial Revolution brought change, and different areas and estates began to specialize in the crops or animals they farmed. For example, the East of England specialized in grain crops while Scotland focused on rearing cows and sheep. This led to increased commerce and economic diversity, increasing trade.

The increase in industry hugely increased foreign trade and introduced mass production, moving manufacturing away from handmade goods and cottage industries into large-scale factories. Technological innovations occurred rapidly, with improvements to existing technologies and brand new technologies increasing the efficiency of production. Industrial Revolution brought changes in the textile industry, communication, transportation and the overall quality of life. All of these changes helped move society from being more agrarian to being primarily industrial. The invention of the spinning jenny and power loom moved textiles from a cottage industry to factories. The changes improved many of the inefficiencies that once existed.

During the revolution, the invention of the telegraph improved communication. The travel of news of important events was no longer limited by the time it took for a messenger to arrive. In 1866, the first transatlantic cable connected the United States with Europe. As the steel industry developed, it provided the raw materials for the steam engine. Robert Fulton's steamboat made trade across the ocean more efficient than carrying goods while depending on sails. The creation of railroads in the United States and Great The UK made travel easier than ever. For the middle and upper class, the Industrial Revolution made life easier. Products that were once only available by creating them at home became commercially available. However, the changes decreased the quality of life for the poor. Factory workers spent long hours laboring at their jobs. Children became responsible for the most dangerous jobs and worked long hours. Housing was often crowded, and the conditions were unsanitary for factory workers.

The effects of the Industrial Revolution were vast and far-reaching changes in the political, economic and social structure of the countries in which it took place. Beginning in The UK in 1750, technological innovations and inventions spawned the growth of large machine-production factories and economic specialization. This revolution soon spread throughout Europe and the United States and had a multitude of effects upon each individual nation. Initially, these changes took place in the landscape of nations, as rural and formerly agricultural workers moved into urban settings. The population shift prompted the growth of large municipalities, and with this, a need for municipal services.

With the advent of large-scale factories, the worker was now much more dependent on an individual employer. Relationships between the capital employers and the laboring class became tense, driving the rise of Marxism in response. Eventually, the dominant political doctrines of both the United States and Great The UK adjusted from lassaiz-faire, in which the government interferes as little as possible to best support the economic system, to one of welfare capitalism, in which the state intervenes to protect the right of the laborer and to offer necessary services. The Industrial Revolution also gave rise to professions, population expansion and a higher standard of living.