Lesson 21 First Industrial Revolution

Innovation in textile technology

In the late 17th century, after the establishment of the constitutional monarchy in England, the political stability, the rapid development of the capitalist economy, and the expansion of domestic and foreign markets, the industrial revolution emerged. In 1733, Kaye invented the flying shuttle, which increased the speed of weaving, and in 1765, Hargreaves invented the spinning machine, which was named "Jenny Machine". The original Jenny machine was able to spin 8 yarns at a time, which greatly improved production efficiency.

The steam engine and the establishment of the factory system

The early invention of the steam engine was used to pump out water from the mines and was very imperfect. The inventor who turned the steam engine into a major power source was Watt. In 1774, Watt's modified steam engine was operating properly in a metallurgical factory, providing powerful power for blowers and steam hammers. Soon, Watt's steam engine began to be used in more industries. Iron foundries used it to drive forging machinery, textile mills used it to drive spinning and weaving machines, and flour mills used it to drive flour mills. The widespread use of steam engines was a significant leap forward in production, greatly increasing productivity and allowing the industrial revolution to move more quickly and deeply.

Early factories were largely powered by water, so they were generally located in rural areas with fast-flowing water rather than in cities. By the 1830s, the steam engine became the primary source of power. The steam engine provided more efficient power, and from then on, factories could be located in many places away from rivers, and factories became larger, some employing more than 1,000 people. In the 19th century, the traditional handicraft workshops were gradually replaced by large factories, and the modern factory system was finally established.

Trains and railroads

In the early 19th century, "railroads" were already being built to transport goods. The tracks were made of wood and the carriages were pulled by horses.

In 1825, a steam train designed by Stevenson carried 450 passengers at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour, marking the beginning of the railroad era, and after 1830, Britain embarked on an investment spree to build railroads, and by 1851, Britain had a network of about 10,000 kilometers in total. The advent of the railroad era provided society with faster, cheaper and more convenient transportation and made the connection between production and markets closer.

By the mid-19th century, Britain had become the world's first industrial nation.

From the late 18th century, other western countries began to learn from the advanced technology and production experience of Britain. France, the United States, Germany and other Western countries successively carried out industrial revolutions.

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