Intro to the Industrial Revolution

Agricultural Revolution

Industrial Age

• Until mid 1700’s mostly subsistence based

• Small farming villages -handmade tools, made own clothes, grew own food, may exchange goods in farmers markets

• Slow, uneven – oftentimes painful process

Agriculture Leads the Way

• Second agricultural revolution • Improved quality and quantity of food• Dutch – used multiple small fields• Used fertilizer• 1700s – “Farm Journals” in Britain leads to

further innovation

Improved Farming Methods

• Jethro Tull – the seed drill (1701)-more organized, planned areas of growth• Townshend and turnips – restore soil• Enclosures – consolidating land, made land

private-Parliament supported this-Increased output-Many farm laborers lost work

Where did they go?

Population Growth

• Increased food output = cheaper/plentiful food sources

• Improved nutrition • Decrease of deaths due to famine and disease• Britain – 5 million in 1700, Europe 120 million Britain - 9 million in 1800, Europe 180 million

New Technology

• 1700s increased coal usage• 1712 – Thomas Newcomen’s steam engine• 1764 – James Watt improves steam engine-eventually used on ships/trains• Smelting process – separate iron from ore by

using coal-less expensive/better ironWhy is iron important?

Where did it Begin?

• Britain – why?• Natural resources, rivers, ports• In 1750 Britain is stable (at home) • Wealthy economy based off of empire

What Happens?

• Growth of cities• New middle class • Pollution, quality of life issues

• Industrial Rev.