The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the 1780s due to several favorable conditions: a large colonial market and trade, a strong domestic market, available capital and labor, and the development of new technologies like the steam engine. The first factories produced cotton goods using machines like the spinning jenny and water frame. Working conditions in the early factories were difficult, with long hours and child labor. The railroad boom lowered transportation costs and expanded markets. By 1851, Britain had become the "workshop of the world" due to immense industrial and population growth.

1. The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain c.e. 1780 AP European History Eastview High School McKay, et al. 8 th ed. Ch22 – The Revolution in Energy & Industry