Key Innovations of the Industrial Revolution

Machines, Steam, and Factories

Another essential element in this change was technological innovation.

Machines substituted human labor. Each technical progress meant a rise in productivity and a decrease in production costs, which allowed goods to be sold cheaper, increasing demand and generating greater profits.

The first machines were driven by human force and then hydro-electric power. But the source of energy that revolutionized production was steam. The steam engine, invented by James Watt in 1769, used coal as fuel. It became the symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

Mechanization and the introduction of new energy sources caused the spread of the factory system of production. This system consists of concentrating workers and machines in large buildings: factories. In factories, each worker carried out only a small part of the production line.

Textile Manufacturing Innovations

In Great Britain, the first sector to mechanize was the cotton industry. In the 18th century, a significant trade in cotton was already taking place.

To enable greater production, a series of innovations appeared. One of the first was the flying shuttle (1733), which increased the speed of fabric production. Later, new spinning machines emerged (such as the Water Frame, Spinning Jenny, and Mule), which improved and increased the production of yarn. Finally, the power loom (1785) completed the process of textile manufacture.

Coal, Iron, and Steel Production

The invention that allowed for greater production of iron was the use of coke by Darby (1732), which had a higher heating value than charcoal. Later, Bessemer invented a converter to change iron into steel.

The Transportation Revolution

Agricultural and industrial growth required an efficient way to bring production to markets, so innovations in transportation facilitated trade growth.

Railway and Steamboat Development

Since the middle of the 18th century, trade routes in Great Britain and Europe were improved, mainly roads and fluvial routes.

Initially, railways were used in mining to transport mineral production to industries. However, the most important innovation was the invention of the steam locomotive by Stephenson (1829). The first passenger route was Manchester-Liverpool in 1830.

As a consequence, commerce became safer, faster, and cheaper than before. It also stimulated iron production and related industries.

After that, steam was used in navigation. New steamboats made of steel substituted wooden sailing ships. The first ones were used in the USA in 1807. The Atlantic route, for example, took about 15 days by 1847.