Industrial Revolution

In Britain, changes in agricultural machines, and etc. during 1700 to 1850 led to changes in other things such as industry, and thus caused the Industrial Revolution. During the time period of 1730 to 1850, the Industrial Revolution hit Britain full speed. It happened in Britain because of the great amount and varieties of natural resources in Great Britain at that time. These resources included coal and iron, and overseas colonies provided raw cotton, promoting the iron, coal, and textile industries. 

British Factories by the River

Britain was graced with good harbors and rivers, and had the ability to have foreign trade at their fingertips, and the rivers provided water power before the invention of steam power. Due to the new advances in farming, many were left unemployed, so they migrated to the cities where they were provided with jobs, and for the employers, a cheap working supply. People of wealthier classes could afford to endeavor in this new capital, and set up new industries. 

Britain had two large markets who demanded supplies, their home market, and their foreign markets in the colonies, who were forced by law to buy British goods. Britain was ruled with a parliamentary system that was under people who were interested in industry, and therefore passed legislation which allowed the building of bridges, roads, canals, kept taxes low, and a patent system. Inventions also allowed mass production to be achieved, and by the 1870s, power looms were a must in a textile factory.  John Kay and James Watt, and Robert Fulton invented various things, such as the mechanical loom to the steam engine, which changed transportation and trade and the way Europe moved. 

Steam Engine

There was a cheap and plentiful supply of new labor during this time, and they were children. Child Labor was in the industrialized cities and industries. Profits increased when children were hired, and they were paid less than men, and orphans were even cheaper, in which they worked for food and shelter (semi-slavery). There were many children, poorer classes sent their children to work and make a living to help the family. Children did not fight back or cause uprisings, they would not complain to their employers if they conditions were unsafe or the conditions were poor. The children were small, they could fit into small spaces and fix the machinery or do other necessary doings that bigger adults could not do. There were no laws against the hiring of children anyway, and the general way of thinking was laissez-faire, where the government stayed out of the factory owners' ways. 

Young Boys Who Most Likely
Worked in a Coal Mine

These children had to work long hours before 1833, and they typically worked 12 to 14 hour days, except for Sundays. Leftover time was for breaks that were for eating, the children had no time to play or become educated if they worked in a factory. Most of the time children were beaten by their bosses, due to a break in the factory rules. A great amount of children became sick, and their bodies became deformed while working in the factories.

Young Children Working
 in the Machinery

Britain was the world's first industrialized nation, it dominated in world trade of manufactured goods until the 1900's and was known as the "Workshop of the World." Industrialization spread after it hit England, and the factory system and use of powered machinery spread over Europe and to other factories in Britain. The employment rate raised in these times in the industries, whereas in agriculture it declined.  

Urbanization happened rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, which decreased living conditions. As more people moved to cities, looking for work, the areas became more crowded and congested and dirty. The city streets were filthy, covered with human waste and factory waste, which led into the rivers and such, causing diseases and various other things. People started to think that cleanliness was a necessity, and the bacterial revolution followed the IR, where they were concerned with keeping cities and people clean and sanitary. Scientists like Pasteur, Lister and Koch developed procedures for sanitation, antibiotics, and medicines. This resulted in declined mortality rates in Europe as a whole, and an improved way of life.

Lister

Pasteur