Dawn of the Industrial Age

By: Emma Bunting

Starting in Britain, the Industrial Revolution was a long, slow, uneven process where production

moved from simple hand tools to complex machines.

Life Changes as Industry Spreads1750: many people lived the rural life, where they

would have handmade tools and clothing and work the lands, growing their own food.

They did not know much about what was happening outside their village, as they would not travel very far

With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, this way of living began to change.

1850: Villages were transforming into industrial towns and cities.

Travelers of this age were able to move quickly through countries and continents either by train or steamship.

Messages would be delivered via telegraph wires.

Life Changes as Industry SpreadsEach year, new inventions

and scientific “firsts” would be revealed to the public

1830-1850 American dentist uses anesthetic

for the first time American inventor created first

sewing machine French physicist measured the

speed of light Hungarian doctor introduced

sterile methods

Farming Methods ImproveThe Dutch built dikes in order to retrieve land

from the sea, combined fields to make better use of the land, and use fertilizer from farm animals to renew the soil

Later, educated British farmers exchanged news of experiments through farm journals

One farmer, Jethro Tull, was particularly known for his invention, the seed drill, which would place seeds in rows neatly rather than scattering them.

The Seed Drill

Jethro Tull

Enclosure Increases Output but Causes Migration

Rich landowners took over and combined land that peasant farmers previously owned in a process called enclosure.

They did this in order to create larger fields which would be cultivated more effectively

The British Parliament made it easier to carry out enclosures through legislation

Enclosure Increases Output but Causes MigrationAs a result of so many enclosures taking

place, profits rose as large fields needed fewer workers

This meant that many workers lost their jobs and small farmers were forced off their land as they could not compare with large landholders.

Many people migrated to towns and cities in search of work and these people later united to form a work force that tended machines of the Industrial Revolution.

Population MultipliesThe agricultural revolution caused population to increase

significantlyBritain’s approximate population

1700: 5 million1800: 9 million

Europe’s approximate population1700: 120 million1800: 180 million

This rapid increase occurred because the revolution reduced the risk of death from food shortages; there was now a surplus of food.

People were also much healthier as they ate better and there was improved hygiene and medical care.

An Energy RevolutionNew sources of energy were found

such as coal, which was used to develop the steam engine

1712: Thomas Newcomen created a steam engine that was used to pump water out of mines

James Watt then studied this steam engine and made several improvements on it that became a key power source in the Industrial Revolution.

This engine led the way to powering locomotives and steamships

The Quality of Iron ImprovesCoal was essential in producing ironAbraham Darby was apart of a family that

introduced new methods of producing ironHe decided to use coal to separate iron from

its ore, which led him to create better quality iron at a cheaper rate

This iron was then used to create parts for the steam engine

Abraham Darby III, his grandson, was able to build the world’s first iron bridge.