Social Studies 9
The Industrial Revolution (The Age of Machines)
The Industrial Revolution saw the introduction of machines that would do the work once
done by hand. A series of inventions would first revolutionize the textile (fabric) industry.
In this industry, machines and workers would be brought together in the “factory
system”. As the Industrial Revolution unfolded, inventions would often trigger the rise of
other new inventions.
As we discuss the information below, keep in mind that you will be writing an essay on
this topic:
Evaluate the effects of the Industrial Revolution on society and the
changing nature of work.
Evaluate: judge the significance and the value
how important was the Industrial Revolution
what were some of the changes?
were these changes positive or negative?
Question:
Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in England?
Answer:
Because all of the prerequisites were available:
 Capital ($)
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 Pro-business government (laissez-faire)
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 Labour supply (partly because of the Agricultural Revolution)
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 Power supply (coal)
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 Resources (colonies)
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 Markets (colonies)
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Social Studies 9
Industrial Revolution Mini-Unit Key
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Evaluate laissez-faire economic theory.
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Pros
Reduced taxes
Increased profits to encourage
investment in industry
Greater wealth benefits everyone in
society
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Cons
Low wages and benefits
Greed
Lack of motivation on the part of
business owners to improve
working conditions
Government’s ability to regulate
workplace standards is limited
Define mercantilism: (Crossroads p.237)
 an economic theory
 a nation should try to accumulate as much wealth as it can
 wealth brings power
 wealth is accumulated by producing and exporting more goods than are imported
 these goods are sold for a profit
 colonies are useful in providing raw materials as well as markets
Question:
How did the Agricultural Revolution provide an increased labour supply?
Answer:
Because improved farming methods led to fewer people needing to work
on farms.
This put some people out of work, and they moved to the cities looking for
new jobs.
Evaluate the effects of the Agricultural Revolution: (Crossroads pp.130-134)
Enclosure Movement
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New Farming Methods
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New Breeds
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Pros
increased efficiency
increased efficiency
more profit
farming became a
business
more meat, thicker wool,
healthier
Industrial Revolution Mini-Unit Key
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Cons
benefitted wealthy
farmers, but poor
people lost their
land
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only wealthy
farmers could
afford them
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Overall, my opinion on the effects of the Agricultural Revolution is:
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The Textile Industry (Crossroads pp.135-138)
The cloth industry helped make Britain rich and powerful. Until modern times, cloth was
made entirely of natural fibres such as wool, silk and linen. Britain had large and
prosperous sheep farms, which had benefitted from the Agricultural Revolution. As
more wool became available, machines were invented to produce cloth more efficiently.
Eventually, these machines became so large that factories had to be built to house
them and the labourers needed to operate the machines. The textile industry became
dependent on a source of power.
Question:
How did innovation in the textile industry lead to the development of other
kinds of technology?
Answer:
The textile industry became a factory industry which depended on more
efficient and improved sources of power.
Sources of Power (Crossroads pp.138-139)
As industries became dependent on a secure source of power, many of those which
were close to running water used water wheels to run machines. This proved to be
insufficient for large machines.
A machine that was invented to pump water out of coal mines proved to be a solution
for the problem. Thomas Newcomen’s machine used steam to pump water out of the
mines. However, Newcomen’s machine was not very reliable, and James Watt was able
to produce a machine which was much more practical and efficient. Watt was also able
to adapt his engine it could be used to drive other machines.
Question:
How did one invention lead to another?
Answer:
Watt was able to improve on Newcomen’s machine in order to provide a
better source of power for factories.
The Iron and Coal Industries (Crossroads p.139)
As more efficient and potent sources of power were invented, the coal and iron
industries, which depended on extreme heat, also grew. These industries had
detrimental effects on the environment as well as on the peoples’ health.
Social Studies 9
Industrial Revolution Mini-Unit Key
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Evaluate the effects of the iron and coal industries.
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Pros
cheaper materials which led to
better quality goods
bigger factories which could employ
more people
coal was a cheap fuel so that
everyone could stay warm
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Cons
the cast iron industry relied on the
coal industry, which could be very
toxic
mines were very dangerous
mines were unhealthy
air pollution
Transportation (Crossroads pp.140-141)
Transportation was essential to the Industrial Revolution so that the goods that were
being produced in factories could be transported to those who would purchase them
efficiently and cheaply. Improvements were made to roads, canals were built, and the
railway system was revolutionized by steam locomotives. In fact, by the late nineteenth
century, railways had become the most important means of transportation in the world.
The Factory System (Crossroads pp.143-150)
The Cottage Industry
Before factories were required to accommodate the large inventions of the Industrial
Revolution, spinning and weaving was done by people in their homes. These people
were often also farmers. Clothiers would then pick up the finished goods and sell them.
What might the advantages and disadvantages of the Cottage Industry be?
Pros
 cottagers could look after families
while they worked
 able to live and work in their own
communities
 income helped support family
Cons
 poorly paid
 long hours
 worked alone without support of
other workers
 little power over employers
 if supply did not meet demand
clothiers would lower prices
Factories
Factories drastically changed the lives of those who worked in them, those who owned
them, those who lived near them, and even the environment (atmosphere).
Predict what some of these changes might be.
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Some of the changes were:
 new cities which grew around the factories
 large housing developments for factory workers
 enormous wealth for factory owners
 pollution
Labourers
Life for people who worked in factories was very difficult. Working conditions were often
noisy, dangerous and filthy. Most factory owners paid the lowest wages they possibly
could, and since improvements to working conditions would also cut into profits, these
were avoided. Conditions were especially appalling for children.
Why would it be quite easy to exploit children?
Some of the ways in which children were exploited were:
 they had no choice
 education was not compulsory
 everyone in the family had to work to survive
 useful for cleaning and reaching enclosed areas because of their size
 pollution, microscopic fibres from textiles got into lungs
 deafening noise, poor quality food
 long shifts, beatings
 resulted in stunted growth and deformed bodies
The Factory Acts
Social reformers made attempts to improve the lives of working people, but it took many
decades before any real changes to working conditions occurred. Since Parliament was
controlled by the people who were more likely to support the factory owners, they
refused to make any changes that might reduce profits. Finally, however, some
members of parliament were so horrified by the conditions in the factories that they
passed laws to improve the lives of workers. In 1802 it became illegal for children to
work more than 12 hours straight in cotton mills. In 1819, children under the age of nine
could no longer work in the textile industry. In 1824, early forms of labour unions were
allowed to be established.
Why was so little accomplished to improve the lives of working people?
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Social Studies 9
Industrial Revolution Mini-Unit Key
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Society and Culture (Crossroads pp.150-155)
The middle class grew significantly during the Industrial Revolution. In 19th century
Britain, the middle class consisted of people who worked in professions such as
doctors, lawyers and engineers, as well as people who owned property and money, or
were army officers. Those who worked in stores or offices, or who owned small stores
were members of the lower middle class. Those who worked in trades of factories were
members of the working class, which was further divided into skilled, unskilled or casual
labourers. The class system remained very powerful throughout the 19 th and even well
into the 20th centuries, and it was very difficult to move from one class to another.
Why do you think that the middle class grew so considerably?
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The Industrial Revolution had an enormous effect on the lives of women. When the
cottage industry was replaced by factories, many women had to leave their homes and
look for work either in the factories or as servants in the homes of wealthy people.
Some women found work as agricultural labourers.
There were a few women whose lives improved as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
These women found themselves with their own money for the first time. With this came
new found independence. Middle and upper class women were able to afford numerous
servants because the cost of labour was so low.
Were the benefits for a few women worth the sacrifices that many other women had to
make? Explain your opinion.
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The poorest people had to live in slums, where entire families might be forced to live in
one room. Sewage systems were almost non-existent, and disease was rampant. Crime
was common. The Poor Law, which was designed to help needy people, actually made
their situation worse by forcing people to live in workhouses. Here people had to work at
menial jobs in return for a little food and primitive shelter.
How do the ways in which we assist poor people in our society differ from 19th century
England?
Social Studies 9
Industrial Revolution Mini-Unit Key
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