CAMBRIDGE AS HISTORY: THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BY 1800. CAUSES OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BY 1800.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
THEINDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTIONBY1800
2.1 CAUSESOFTHEINDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTIONBY1800

3. PRE-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
Dependence on the land: agrarian economy – most people’s
livelihoods depended on the land; implications for wealth and social
status.
Agricultural methods: changed little for centuries; people who worked
the land did not own it and had little incentive to improve methods; a
poor harvest could lead to starvation.
Enclosures: landowners formed larger units of land – led to
unemployment for peasants, who were increasingly denied access to
common land.

5. PRE-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY cont.
Transport: most roads were poor; improvements with turnpikes; use of
rivers and canals increased in late 18th century.
Population growth: began after 1750; led to greater demand for food
and other products.
Urbanisation: more people living in towns and cities.
Agricultural revolution: changes in methods leading to increased
output.

7. INDUSTRY
Cottage industry: people worked in their own homes, spinning,
weaving, using hand-powered machines.
Inventions: series of inventions improved such industries and led to
early factories.