IX. Industrial Revolution

1. Brief content of the lecture

1. Causes of the industrial revolution

Industrial revolution -

Industrial revolution began in England at the second half of the XVIII century and in the XIX c. took place in all developed countries of the world: first, in the USA and West Europe. Contrast to political revolution, it was gradual.

*Causes and prerequisites of the industrial revolution

- excess of work force

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2. The first stage of the industrial revolution

Revolution began from machines inventions; these machines increased labour productivity. First machines were made in England, in textiles. This production demanded protection because of import of cheap textile from India. British government tried to limit Indian import, but it was impossible. The “pioneer of factories” in England was Richard Arkwright who used water frame- spinning device operated by water.

John Kay in 1733 invented flying shuttle. James Hargreaves in 1767 perfected a machine which could spin several threads at the same time- a spinning jenny, which increased output of cotton yarn. By 1870 the textile industries were almost completely mechanized by these and other machines. The new machines were housed in mills or factories. These allowed Britain to take over global market for cotton cloth (dominated before by India).

To drive machinery James Watt developed steam engines, instead of water wheel. In 1800 two hundred steam engines were constructed in England.

Steam machines created a huge new demand for coal, iron and precision machinery. In 1700 British coal production were about 4 mln tones a year, in 1750- 6 mln tones, in 1800- 10 mln tones.

The iron and steel industry grew because the growth of industry meant an increased demand for iron. By 1770 there were only 5 steel manufacturers in Sheffield. In 1856 there were 135.

Transportation. Steam machines began to be used in shipbuilding and railroads. George Stephenson (“the father of the railways”) invented train with steam locomotives (locomotive was a steam engine which could pull carts along rails). In 1825 the first line was opened. By 1840 7,000 km railways were built in Great Britain, by 1860 50,000 in the USA. The main symbols of the first stage of the industrial revolution were:

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Date: 2015-01-02; view: 924