1. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 18th century. This century lasted
from 1701 to 1800, according to the Gregorian calendar. Some of the important events
of this century are the following: the Spanish Succession War, the creation of the United
States of America and the election of George Washington as its formal president, the
French Revolution, the foundation of the city of New Orleans by the French in North
America, the expansion of the Prussian Empire or the Battle of Waterloo.
Some important people of that time are Johann Sebastian Bach (German music
composer), Napoleon Bonaparte (French military and politician), Benjamin Franklin,
Thomas Jefferson, George Washington (all of them American US formal presidents),
Mozart (Austrian music composer), Schiller (German writer and poet from Weimar) or
Kant (German philosopher).
TRANSPORT: COAL / STEAM
As mechanism progressed, it became essential to look for a prime mover that could be
more powerful and easy to use and transport. James Watt carried out some researches
on steam power until he obtained a machine that could use that power to an easy
movement. It was a combination of technology and science.
The improvements on Watt’s steam machine were responsible of a higher extraction of
coal to make them work. This extraction was very expensive at the very beginning, but
at the same time it could be paid with the big benefits that the new industrial
improvements made.
Up: steam in its natural state Up: clouds; with steam Up: coal burning
Up: a train that works thanks to these improvements on transport using coal and steam
The Mechanization
The change in the systems of production was characterized by the use of machinery and
replacement of animated energy (human or animal labour) for inanimate (hydro and
coal) sources.
This process involved the ruin if many artisans and individualized production
(handmade) was gradually replaced by the factory system (mass production).
the mechanization of the production process started in the textile industry with the
flying shuttle John Kay (1733), the new spinning and the power looms.
The final report to the new forms of production jump occurred when these machines

2. began to move through the use of hydropower that used the river water through water
wheels.
However, the steam engine was patented by John Watt in 1769, which allowed leaving
the agency and the limitations of the energy sources becoming the symbol of the
Industrial Revolution.
Mechanization, steam and concentration resulted in factories increased productivity and
production, enabling lower costs and reduce the price.
The woman
Women before the industrial revolution was regarded as a child, which is why it was
politically incapable, who only could to have charge in childcare or household chores.
Later, after the discovery of the steam engine in 1789, an innovation that requires
workers to operate, is incorporated, so the women became a useful way participate in
working instrument.
Women had lower wages working more hours and they hadn’t any maternity sick. For
all this reasons, family life was greatly affected.
The chemical industry
One of the most useful invention of this time was the artificial colourings, that were
made of tar and derivates of them. They replaced the natural dyes and were useful in
textile industry.
Alfred Nobel invented the dynamite. The people use it in minery and in wars.
The fertilizers advance too, they could make synthetic fertilizers and it was very useful
in agriculture.
Capitalism
In that time, the bourgeois got a lot of money and born a monopoly capitalism economic
system. There were many monopolies, and they made competence with the other ones.
One monopoly is the concentration of the money in one place.
Materials that were used to in Industrial revolution
Iron
Was applied almost exclusively to the railway, now will find new applications such as
construction and armament.
Steel
Was a very expensive metal to produce and use was limited to a few products.
Besides iron and steel, other metals will have a great importance in industrial
development. These include the aluminum, very lightweight and durable metal.
Copper
Will also have a great importance to improve its production is intended, almost
exclusively, in the electrical industry, or as a driver or as a component of the electric
motors.
Zinc
Will have a certain importance because when mixed with iron oxidation stops.
Causes of the Industrial Revolution

3. •Population Growth: Since the eighteenth century the plague epidemics were
disappearing and the development of agriculture allowed the growth of food production
and a decrease in mortality.
•There were also migrations, especially to America.
• The increase in production allowed feed a rapidly growing population.
Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution operated a change in the social, economic, political and
lifestyle aspects of humanity due to the invention and implementation of large-scale
machines.
Economically:
•Were designed, developed and perfected the means of communication and transport.
•Chambers of commerce was established.
•The income credit system is developed.
•The craftsmanship and manufacturing could not compete with the big capitalist factory
and gradually disappeared.
•Appears the capitalist mode of production.
Socially:
•Appeared large cities, which became industrial centers.
•The intensification of labor problems and the organization of workers in unions, trade
unions, etc.
•The main consequence of the industrial revolution was the emergence of two classes of
capitalist society: the industrial bourgeoisie and industrial proletariat, the 2 large social
groups: capitalist and worker.
Politically:
•Strengthened political bourgeoisie.
•The industry occupied a predominant position.
Changes in lifestyle:
•The population is concentrated in cities with industrial activity.