The Industrial Revolution
In this lesson, students will be able to define
or explain the following terms:
Reasons for the Industrial Revolution
The Domestic System
Urbanization
Laissez-faire Capitalism
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The Industrial Revolution began in Great
Britain in the 1750s. It quickly spread to
Europe and the United States.
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Great Britain had many harbors and rivers,
as well as coal.
It had a good location for trade.
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Great Britain had a vast colonial empire.
This empire brought raw materials to her
ports. Cheap raw materials fueled
industrialization.
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The British middle class promoted
trade and industrialization.
They invested capital in manufacturing.
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Great Britain had good transportation and
communication systems. Canals, postal
service, newspapers, and the world’s most
powerful navy helped industrialization.
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Before the Industrial Revolution, weavers
and craftsmen worked at home. This
was known as the domestic system.
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Inventions also helped industrialization.
The spinning jenny allowed one person
to spin six or seven threads at once.
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James Watt’s improved steam engine
made steam power available for
mechanical purposes. Steam power
could drive many machines.
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Workers were placed together in factories.
Early factories were often unsafe places
to work. Workers worked long hours
and received low wages.
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Urbanization occurred. Large numbers
of workers moved from the countryside
to cities.
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The first railroads were created in the
early 1830s. Railroads linked cities,
factories, towns, and rural areas.
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A new middle class of capitalists emerged.
They developed laissez-faire capitalism
or a free market where the government
does not intervene in the market.
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Questions for Reflection:
• What were the causes of the Industrial
Revolution?
• How did the domestic system differ from
the factory system?
• What is urbanization and what were the
effects of urbanization?
• Define laissez-faire capitalism.
• What were the advantages and
disadvantages of industrialization?
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