The Industrial Revolution

DBQ: The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution refers to the greatly increased output of machine-made goods that began in England in the 1700’s within the textile industry. Before the Industrial Revolution, people wove textiles by hand. Beginning in the middle of the eighteenth century, machines did this and other jobs as well. Greatly improved farming methods resulted in an agricultural revolution that paved the way for changes in manufacturing techniques. There were many reasons why the Industrial Revolution began in England and then spread to continental Europe and North America.

The Industrial Revolution began in England and spread to continental Europe and North America. Before the Industrial Revolution began people wove textiles by hand. When the Industrial Revolution began, machines were created to do the job. As seen in document 3, which is an innovation document, the factory workers were productive because they had few things to do since they didn’t have to work by hand due to the machines. As seen in document 6, an innovation document, there is a list of different inventions and their importance in changes in the textile machinery. For example, the flying shuttle, invented by John Kay, increased the speed of weaving which led to more cotton being produced.

The geography of England also explains why the Industrial Revolution started there. Britain had the advantage of plentiful natural resources such as natural ports and navigable rivers. These natural resources made trade of coal and iron easier. Britain had a plentiful supply of coal, which was needed to power steam engines. Supplies of iron would be available to be used to make new machines. As seen in document 1,