Industrial Revolution

Question 1

Why was Britain the birthplace of the Industraial Revolution?

Answer 1

• Britain was the only mature industrial economy at that time.
• Britain had relative peace and stability
• Natural resources were abundant for initial technological development
• engineers were respected and backed by wealthy patrons

Question 2

How could Britain encourage the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 2

• England had large amounts of accessible coal, cheap to mine, which led to the development of coal powered machinery (steam engine).
• Britain had the highest wages in the world at the beginning of the 18th century.

Question 3

How was the early Industrial Revolution seen as world-wide?

Answer 3

• Indian cotton textiles drove the early Industrial Revolution (British manufacturers invested in machines for the development of the cotton industry).
• Ships allowed the connection of Britain’s factories and colonial markets.

Question 4

How was the Industrial Revolution influenced by the Agricultural Revolution?

Answer 4

The Industrial Revolution was underpinned by the Agricultural Revolution, as the huge increase in food outputs supported the the growing population, boosing trade.

Question 5

What changed as a result of the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 5

• Roads, canals and railways allowed goods to be sent throughout Britain.
• Factories dominated the British skyline (overcrowded cities and dangerous factory conditions).
• Disease soread through garbage-filled, sewage streets
• There was an evident need for better means of transportation.

Question 6

What was working like in the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 6

• Low wages and an abundant supply of labour caused many factory workers to live in poverty
• a middle class emerged
• housing was typically crowded with little light and sanitation
• 12-hour shifts with very little safety protection

Question 7

Role of Children in the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 7

• Low wages meant that children had to work in order to support their family.
• Their small size was seen as an advantage such as for draging wagons in mine shafts, cleaning under machinery and chimney sweepers.
• Child labour was common, with children working as young as 5.

Question 8

Why were children employed?

Answer 8

• They were seen as obedient
• There was no affodible schooling
• Working-class families needed income
• Paid for less
• Smaller and more agile
• Little laws protecting children

Question 9

Experiences of Children in the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 9

• Dangerous conditionns without protecting clothing, gear or training
• Often faced with harsh treatment (no breaks, beatings)
• Injured children were typically fired
• Children worked in mines, glass factories, textile industry, agriculture and canneries.

Question 10

Role of women in the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 10

• Women strated working in the textile industry
• Hired as they were considered cheaper and more obedient
• Often started working as children, and was also the caretaker of the house (working day and night)

Question 11

Experiences of women in the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 11

• Women were left with deformed ribs and chests, lung disease and permanent injuries due to working conditions (dust, bending over machinery and injuries)
• In the late 1800’s, 1/3 of women were employed, making 1/3-1/2 of what men did.
• Women were interested to save their own money for their families, however law meant their earnings went to the husband or father.

Question 12

Roles of men in the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 12

• Men dominated the work force, making money (over goods) for families (farmers, craftsmen)
• They were economically dependent - where tasks were repetitive and tedius.

Question 13

Experiences of men in the Industrial Revolution

Answer 13

• Poor workers were often cramped in inadequate quarters
• Men were exposed to poor ventilation, machinery trauma, toxic heavy metal, dust + solvent exposure.

Question 14

How did technology change?

Answer 14

• New technology meant goods were produced on a larger scale
• INcrease in production through machinery and energy sources
• Machine development brought change to Britain’s economy and society
• Better metals and fuel contributed to industrialisation
• Increased demand for coal and iron (steam engine)
• Mechanisation in textile (spinning jenny) and iron industry (steel)

Question 15

What did change in technology lead to?

Answer 15

• Weath generated from Agricultural and Industrial Revolution fueled consumerism
• Large-scale goods led to the development of manufacturing techniques, and transport routes.

Question 16

Where/Why did people move in the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 16

• Agricultural improvements allowed people to move from rural towns to industrialised cities.
• Poor people flocked to cities for work leading to housing developments (labour drew people in (85% of population lived in cities in 1900))

Question 17

What was caused as a result of moving?

Answer 17

• Fast-change led to slums with overcrowding, disease and poverty
• This also caused people to emigrate to America, South Africa and Australia.

Question 18

What did emigrating involve?

Answer 18

• Convicts were sent against their will as crime punishment - earning Britain money until American War of Independence and murder + mutiny (South Africa), sending convicts to Australia
• Free settlers had a change of owning landing (creating an upward social mobility in America/Australia)
• African slaves were sold to work in American fields (brutal ship conditions)
• Wealth from slavery built the Industrial Revolution, British technology developed from slave trader profits.