The Industrial Revolution first occurred in England due to several key factors: the Agricultural Revolution created a surplus of food and disposable income; Britain had valuable raw materials like cotton and coal near the surface; its many navigable rivers provided efficient transportation; there were no internal tariffs hindering trade; and a stable government and banking system encouraged industrial development. A large, mobile workforce was also available to meet the labor demands of emerging factories.

1. Causes of the
Industrial Revolution
In England

2. The Agricultural Revolution
• In the 18th century, the
Agricultural Revolution
created a surplus of food.
This caused food prices to
go down. British families
could save money, and use
this money to buy
manufactured goods.
(This extra money is
called "disposable
income.")

3. Raw Materials
• The British Empire and its
colonial system provided
valuable sources of raw
materials such as cotton. Also,
large deposits of iron and coal
were near the Earth's surface
in Britain, providing
materials to help industrial
development.

4. Navigable Waters in Britain
• There is an abundance of navigable waters and rivers
in and around Britain, so that a person can never be
far from a waterway. This made transportation of
materials and manufactured goods efficient and
cheap.

5. No Internal Tariffs
• Unlike in other parts of Europe,
Britain had no internal tariffs
(taxes) on goods. This made
movement of materials and
manufactured products very
easy, efficient, and cheap.

6. Stable Government and Banking
• Unlike many places at
the time, Britain had a
stable government and
established banking
system. This stability
helped industrial
development -
development of
companies and
individual
entrepreneurship were
encouraged.

7. Large and Mobile Work Force
• In other parts of Europe,
peasants were bound to
the land and couldn't
leave. In Britain, farm
lands were enclosed, so
there were more workers
available than necessary
for agriculture. For these
workers, industry was a
good source of money.