Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the major technological, socioeconomic and cultural change in the late 18th and early 19th century resulting from the replacement of an economy based on manual labor to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. It began in England with the introduction of steam power (fueled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing). The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the nineteenth century enabled the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries.

Factories

Industrialization also led to the creation of the factory. John Lombe's water-powered silk mill at Derby was operational by 1721. In 1746 an integrated brass mill was working at Warmley near Bristol. Raw material went in at one end, was smelted into brass, and was turned into pans, pins, wire, and other goods. Housing was provided for workers on-site.

Related Topics:
Factory - John Lombe - Water-powered silk mill - Derby - Warmley - Bristol

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Josiah Wedgwood and Matthew Boulton were other prominent early industrialists.

Related Topics:
Josiah Wedgwood - Matthew Boulton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The factory system was largely responsible for the rise of the modern city, as workers migrated into the cities in search of employment in the factories. For much of the 19th century, production was done in small mills, which were typically powered by water and built to serve local needs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The transition to industrialization was not wholly smooth. For example, a group of English workers known as Luddites formed to protest against industrialization and sometimes sabotaged factories.

Related Topics:
Luddite - Sabotage

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the earliest reformers of factory conditions was Robert Owen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~