The industrial revolution

The industrial revolution

            The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840 and was a time many of the modern inventions we take for granted today were created. Important facts:

·         The Industrial Revolution occurred in the last part of the 18th century. It began in Great Britain.

·         This revolution was an economic one, and it changed the way the world produced goods.

·         The population went from being agricultural to industrial. This meant people moved off of the farms and out of the country. There were huge numbers of people that moved into cities. Many people were forced to move to the cities to look for work. They ended up living in cities that could not support them.

·         During this time, there were also many new advancements in technology. The assembly line was one of the biggest inventions. Henry Ford is credited with this invention.

·         Some of the biggest advancements were in steam power. New fuels such as coal and petroleum, were used in these new steam engines. This revolutionized many industries including textiles and manufacturing.

·         Another invention was called the telegraph. This made communicating across the ocean easier and much faster. Messages could be sent and received in minutes and delivered the same day. Writing a letter and sending it overseas could take weeks.

·         The Industrial Revolution was not a good revolution for the earth. Industry was releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and waste into the waterways and soil.

·         The conditions in factories were not very good. Workers worked for a long time and children and women were exploited.