Early Inventions in the British Textile Industry

A traditional spinning wheel

• The “putting-out” system- early capitalism

The Gallant Weaver, by Robert Burns      Where Cart rins flow in tae the sea,

        By many a flow'r and shading tree,        There lives a lad, the lad for me,        He is a gallant weaver.        Oh I had wooers ought of nine,        That gied me rings and ribbons fine,        But I was fear'd my heart wad tine,        And I gie'd it tae the weaver.

       My daddie sign'd my tocher band,       To gi'e the lad that has the land,       But tae my heart I'll add my hand,       And gie'd it to the weaver.       While birds rejoice in leafy bow'rs,       While bees delight in opening flow'rs,       While corn grows green in summer show'rs,       I'll love my gallant weaver.

•  

John Kay’s Flying Shuttle, 1733

• James Hargreaves’

Spinning Jenny, 1764

Richard Awkright’s Water Frame, 1769

Samuel Crompton’s Spinning Mule, 1779

James Watt’s Steam Engine, 1781

Edmund Cartwright’s Power Loom, 1785

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1793

Robert Fulton’s Clermont, 1807

George Stephenson’s Rocket, 1825

In summary…• Technological advances in textiles• Steam power• The new iron age- steel• Transportation and communication• Incorporation• Urbanization• The working class• Relief and reform

Industrial Revolution in perspective:

• Transformation of every facet of society;• Accelerated the pace of modernization• Increased the size and importance of the middle

class• Created a new-”working” class• Became a force for democracy• Hastened the secularization of European life• Changed the geography of global interaction• Made possible the highest standard of living in

human history