Summary AS History: The Industrial Revolution in Britain
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A fully summarised document that covers 2.1 of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, .
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The industrial Revolution in Britain, 1750-1850
2.1 What were the causes of the Industrial Revolution?
v The agricultural revolution
§ Between 1780 - 1850, Britain became the first industrialised
nation in the world.
§ Large parts of Britain, especially the north-west of England and
the English Midlands, developed major manufacturing
industries.
§ Before this, these areas had been open fields and farms.
§ This created many jobs and goods were globally transported
which new forms of transport developed
§ In 1750, clothing was made by hand in the homes of
agricultural workers
§ By 1850, huge steam-powered machines in factories produced
thousands of metres of better-quality cloth a day.
§ This industrialisation led to a rapid growth in the size of towns
and cities, and, by 1850, the majority of the British population
lived in urban areas.
§ Economic change brought social change, as a middle class
formed and grew and an industrial workforce emerged in the
towns and cities.
§ The aristocracy was no longer able to dominate parliament and
the government.
§ Anyone standing in Manchester in 1850 and remembering what
it looked like in 1780 would see immediately that there had
been huge economic, social and political changes which
affected every member of society.
§ Britain was fortunate in 1750, in having good foundations on
which to develop industrialisation.
§ Its agricultural system was capable of feeding a growing
population, including the rapidly increasing section of the
population who lived in cities.
§ The general good health of this population and its willingness
to be mobile were additional benefits.
, § The country’s banking system and currency were stable.
§ There was capital available and a willingness to invest it in new
commercial ventures.
§ The country’s enormous supply of coal was supplemented by
the overseas empire, which produced other raw materials,
created a further great demand for manufactured goods.
§ These colonies could also provide additional foodstuffs to those
grown at home.
§ ports, navigable rivers and canals helped to transport all these
goods.
§ The aristocracy dominated parliament and the government,
and were supportive of industrialisation.
§ Britain was also politically stable, with an attempted invasion
by the Scots in 1745 defeated.
§ However it was involved in several overseas conflicts, but these
stimulated manufacturing and gained Britain many colonies.
§ The mild and damp weather conditions were particularly
suitable for the development of textile industries.
v Developments in agriculture
§ underwent some significant changes to its agricultural system
in the century before 1750.
§ Three key factors must be stressed:
§ For most of the period, there was sufficient food to feed the
population.
§ Agricultural output increased substantially and diet improved.
§ This was important in supporting a growing population and in
reducing infant mortality.
§ Britain was able to feed not only a growing city population.
§ Agricultural output in Britain had increased in the century
before 1750 and a variety of new techniques for improving
output had been developed.
§ The other significant change to occur before 1750 was the
move towards larger farm units.
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