What happened at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution?
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ChatGPT
2 hours ago
The Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century in Britain with the mechanization of the textile industry. This period marked a significant shift from agrarian and handcraft-based economies to industrialized and machine-driven economies. Key developments at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution included the invention of the spinning jenny, the steam engine, and the power loom, which revolutionized the production of textiles and other goods. Factories began to emerge, and urbanization increased as people moved from rural areas to cities in search of work in the new industries. This period also saw the rise of capitalism, mass production, and the growth of global trade networks.
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Google Gemini AI
2 hours ago
Technological Innovations:
- Steam engine (James Watt, 1769): Provided a reliable and efficient source of power for factories. - Textile machinery: Spinning jenny (James Hargreaves, 1764), power loom (Edmund Cartwright, 1785), cotton gin (Eli Whitney, 1793) increased productivity in textile manufacturing. - Iron making: Improved blast furnaces and the Bessemer process (Henry Bessemer, 1856) made iron and steel production more efficient and affordable.
New Sources of Energy:
- Coal: Replaced wood and water as the primary fuel source for factories, providing reliable and abundant energy.
Factory System:
- Centralized production: Workers were concentrated in large buildings (factories) for more efficient production. - Division of labor: Tasks were broken down into smaller steps, increasing efficiency and productivity.
Urbanization:
- Population shift: Workers migrated from rural areas to cities in search of factory jobs, leading to rapid urban growth.
Social Changes:
- New social classes: The Industrial Revolution created a middle class of factory owners and a working class of factory workers. - Labor movement: Workers sought to improve their working conditions and wages, leading to the formation of unions.
Economic Growth:
- Increased productivity: Technological innovations and the factory system led to a surge in production and economic growth. - Capital accumulation: Profits from factories were reinvested in new technology and infrastructure, further fueling economic growth.