Why the Industrial Revolution Began in Britain

Why Did the Industrial Revolution Start in Britain?

Firstly, between 1750 and 1850, Britain became an industrialized country. The lives of the citizens changed drastically during these years, a period which is well known as the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization is the process where an area or society adopts particular forms of production.

The importance of industry became crucial as economic activity shifted from raw materials into manufactured goods, which is the main theme characterizing the Industrial Revolution. At the same time, new divisions of social classes were made, and new job opportunities were brought forth. In this essay, the different factors that led to the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the changes that caused the start of the IR will be argued.

Population Growth and Demand

One of the main factors was the population. The population started increasing because of new technological and health advances, leading to a lower mortality rate. This increase in population brought more demand for goods and a surplus of workers. However, this wasn’t the only beginning of the Industrial Revolution; more factors contributed to the IR.

The Role of Raw Materials and Coal

Another factor was raw materials, in particular coal, which played an important role in the IR. It was found in underground mines and produced energy. The Steam Engine was invented by James Watt; it was able to transform coal into energy so that the energy could be used to create new products and goods. Therefore, they could be sold. This was an important factor for the IR. The use of coal as a source of energy revolutionized the world, and transport improved, leading to an increase in trade.

Improvements in Transport and Infrastructure

The next step in the IR was the improvement of transport, which moved goods around Britain more easily. Raw materials, which Britain had in abundance and were necessary for the IR, were moved faster. This was due to the improvement of roads and rivers and the building of canals. It allowed finished goods to be transported to a wider range of markets.

The British Empire and Global Trade

Britain had grown an empire that basically controlled overseas trade. Because of the British colonies, merchants had many opportunities to trade, and many of them became wealthy enough to have the capital to invest in new businesses. The new trade routes brought more money to the country, producing a kind of chain reaction:

• More money led to more products to produce.
• More products were sold to the increased population.
• More trade resulted in, again, more money.

Due to trade, money was gained rapidly and the idea of industrialization spread throughout the world more easily. Other countries adopted these ideas and developed other ways to continue with industry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main sources of the Industrial Revolution were the discovery of coal and the invention of new machines, such as the steam engine. Without these, the Industrial Revolution would not have been the same, and many of these new creations and ideas would not have been developed.