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Why was there an industrial revolution in Britain? There have been many changes in both Britain and the Worlds History, such as the Industrial Revolution? This Revolution I talk about today, started way back, 250 years ago. From this stage, the mid 18 th century, to the early 20 th. Some effects of the revolution where bad, but many on the other hand were very good and have changed the way the world works for the better. I am now going to go through each of the causes of the revolution, then I shall state which cause I think what the trigger cause, which started of the revolution.
Rise in Population The big rise in population meant that everything had to be increased. More houses needed to be built which caused some cities to become overcrowded, but help the industry, because there was more workers to be employed in factory's and other work places. This cause was a long term cause, because over a long period of time, more babies where being produced, and more people were moving in from other countries. The population also increased because less people where dying at a young age, the reasons why people lived longer was because there was cleaner water which meant people were not drinking dirty and contaminated water which would make them sick, better diets: people where getting more meat and vegetables because the farming was improving. The medical skill had improved, so when people where sick they could go and visit there local G. P and would be given treatment and would not get sick and wouldnt die, so population increased.
The Transport revolution The transport revolution occurred, because roads where in very bad condition, they where full of holes, which made them hard to drive over with carriages and horses. The holes filled up with mud and water which was hard to clean, each local parish was suppose to maintain the roads, but as most people didnt drive, it was pointless to go to great extent to keep the roads in a good condition. To change the roads, a decision was made, where tolls and turn pikes would be situated along roads, cars would drive past, and pay a fee of money to pay for maintenance of the road, this money helped to re-surface the roads and keep them in good condition. The money also paid to build new roads, which meant businesses could transport goods along roads easier.
The tolls and turnpikes was a short term cause. Rail ways were made in Britain and goods could be transported fast and cheaply along the country, it took only four and a half hours to transport goods, which was in some contrast to canals which took days even weeks to transport goods, The speed of communication also improved, letters arrived much quicker. The railway time established a common time across Britain. As trains where cheap to run, poor people where able to travel for the first time, they could go on holiday, go to the seaside and visit family.
As railways where growing, the industries which made materials to build railways with also grew, industries such as coal and iron were in demand, and where able to employ more workers. The wages or workers help the economy grow. Canals and horses could only carry a few tons, Freight trains could carry hundreds, industries such as coal and iron couldnt have grown without freight trains. Railway companies employed slums to built the railways so there was less people on the street, which help economy. Coal mines Coal mines in Britain did change Britain in some ways, but where in very bad condition, I dont think they had a massive effect on the revolution as such, but did help to evolve railways and transport. In the coalmines, young children from ages five worked as trappers, they opened and shut doors to let the coal wagons come through, there pay was a mere 2 p a day for 12 or more hours work!
They worked in the dark and the working conditions where dirty and unsuitable. Other areas of concern with the mines where carriers, poor women which where made to carry heavy coal on there bag up to the surface. Many people died whilst working in the coal mines from choke damp or exploding gas, the coal mines should have been made better by stopping women and children in the mines, having nobody under 15 operating and of the machinery, and trappers must be older than 10, and government inspections should have been held monthly. Changes in farming The Norfolk rotation changed the farming in a great way, in the first year it was wheat (for bread) second year turnips (cattle food) third year (barley for beer) and the 4 th year clover and grasses, which made soil richer for the plantations in the following year. The results of this were that fields were used every year, the cattle had food for winter, and scurvy was less common. The Norfolk rotation was better because crops were being produced in larger quantities; the turnips also provided good food for the cattle.
No field was left un used or fallow, less energy was used by the farmers to maintain fields, and a healthier diet. Revolution in textiles/ and the British empire The population of Britain was growing and more clothes where needed, the population in 1850 was 12500 000, more than in 1688, people wanted more cotton cloth, this was because it was cheap, and easier to look after than wool. Because of the empire, Britain could get cheap cotton from the west Indies and south America. By the end of the 18 th century Britain had trading links throughout the world and especially the empire. These colonies provided vast and rich sources of wealth, for example- cotton, sugar, coffee, tea, food, copper etc. This trade made the merchants an enormous amount of money which they could invest back in Britain.
This partially explains how the industrial revolution was funded. In conclusion, the main reason of which the industrial revolution took place was the rise in population, more people meant more things had to be produced such as clothes, housing, coal and industry grew.
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Research essay sample on 18 Th Century Coal Mines
