individually.”- Anonymous historian

The Industrial Revolution crashed into Britain during the 18th century and engaged the nation emotionally, physically and economically. Britain endured many changes due to the industrial revolution in the 18th century. It had many technological advances, became more profitable in exporting goods world wide and was profitable in capital investment. Who would have thought a country at war for more than half of the century was able to become so lucrative.

Exports nearly quadrupled in Great Britain between 1660-1760. Britain was able to market and produce linens and woolen textiles and then ship them throughout Europe. This was done by many technological advances in textile machinery. India, which used to import cotton into Britain and other European countries, was soon overthrown from their profiting position. In 1770, Britain was mass producing cotton products throughout Europe. Britain was able to mass produce cheap articles of clothing and export it to countries such as the Americas, Africa and the Far East. People there were more

concerned with cheap and inexpensive clothing rather than costly high

While mercantilism and trade fueled the industrial revolution many factors declined as a result of this. Farmers were no longer bound to the land which caused a downfall in feudalism. The abolishment of the old system of communal farming and its replacement with family farms stated that everyone had the same share of land as before. But the smaller farmers did not have enough to survive as an independent farmer and as a result they went out of business and sought work in the industrial field. The system of customary prices made the market more free instead of the old system where changing the price because of a shortage was seen as profiteering. Jethro Tull contributed new scientific approaches to farming. He invented a machine that would sow seed in uniform rows and cover up the seed in the rows. Accordingly each plant would have more space to grow, and although there would be fewer plants, the net yield would be greater. Average agricultural surplus per worker doubled from about 25% to about 50%. Workers no longer needed in agriculture were available for industrial jobs.

Transportation technology was another key factor in the British industrial revolution. From 1750 to1815 Britain built more roads and improved the already existing ones which helped reduced transportation cost to about 30%. Making it cheaper to export and import goods.

weaving cotton. By 1787 Britain was importing more than 22 million pounds of cotton thus increasing the market for coal. Steam powered cotton mills required coal to operate and spin cotton. As the market and demand for cotton increased so did the need for coal-it was necessary to produce cotton.

The British textile industry began to take off i

Some topics in this essay:
Immigrants Ireland, James Watt, Industrial Revolution, People Gutkes, Henry Cort, James Hargreave, Jethro Tull, Abraham Darby, Britain People, Newcomen Engine, industrial revolution, factory workers, steam powered, technological advances, cotton textile factories, textile factories, james watt, throughout europe, cotton textile, 18th century, upper class,