In this post we will be looking at what industrial revolution is all about, its important inventions, Advantages and disadvantages of Industrialization.
INTRODUCTION
The term “industrial revolution” best describes a historical period, starting in 18th-century Great Britain, where the pace of change appeared to speed up. This acceleration in the processes of technical innovation brought about an array of new tools and machines.
It also involved more subtle practical improvements in various fields affecting labor, production, and resource use. The American Industrial Revolution, sometimes referred to as the Second Industrial Revolution, began in the 1870s and continued through World War II.
The era saw the mechanization of agriculture and manufacturing and the introduction of new modes of transportation including steamships, the automobile, and airplanes. Many new and innovated inventions were created during the Industrial Revolution.
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These inventions helped further spur the industrial revolution and improved farming, manufacturing, transportation, communication, health, public safety as well as the economy.
Each invention and technological advancement helped spur future inventions so the timeline of the industrial revolution and where these inventions fit in the timeline is important to know.
What industrial revolution?
The Industrial Revolution was a period of major mechanization and innovation that began in Great Britain during the mid-18th century and early 19th century and later spread throughout much of the world. The British Industrial Revolution was dominated by the exploitation of coal and iron. The Industrial Revolution (also known as the First Industrial Revolution) was a period of global transition of human economy towards more efficient and stable manufacturing processes that succeeded the Agricultural Revolution, starting from Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines; new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes; the increasing use of water power and steam power; the development of machine tools; and the rise of the mechanized factory system.
The technological revolution, and that sense of ever-quickening change, began much earlier than the 18th century and has continued all the way to the present day. Perhaps what was most unique about the Industrial Revolution was its merger of technology with industry. Key inventions and innovations served to shape virtually every existing sector of human activity along industrial lines, while also creating many new industries.
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The Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in history. Comparable only to humanity’s adoption of agriculture with respect to material advancement, the Industrial Revolution influenced in some way almost every aspect of daily life. In particular, average income and population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth. Some economists have said the most important effect of the Industrial Revolution was that the standard of living for the general population in the Western world began to increase consistently for the first time in history, although others have said that it did not begin to improve meaningfully until the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The Important Inventions of The Industrial Revolution
Before the Industrial Revolution, products were crafted by hand. However, the new advancements in technology allowed for these items to be made quickly and more cost-effectively. New machines invented during the Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on commerce. The commencement of the Industrial Revolution is closely linked to a small number of innovations, beginning in the second half of the 18th century. By the 1830s, the following gains had been made in important technologies: Due to innovation in the cotton production process and
transportation, England became the leading cotton producer globally. Some of the most notable Industrial Revolution inventions included the following:
- Cotton Production: The invention of the cotton jenny by James Hargreaves in 1768 helped revolutionize the cotton industry in England. Manufacturers were having difficulty creating enough yarn to keep up with the high demand; the cotton jenny allowed a single worker to spin multiple balls of yarn at a time, significantly increasing production.
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- Steam power: the efficiency of steam engines increased so that they used between one-fifth and one-tenth as much fuel. The adaptation of stationary steam engines to rotary motion made them suitable for industrial uses. The high-pressure engine had a high power-to-weight ratio, making it suitable for transportation. Steam power underwent a rapid expansion after 1800.
- Iron making: The cast iron blowing cylinder was first used in 1760. It was later improved by making it double acting, which allowed higher blast furnace temperatures. The puddling process produced a structural grade iron at a lower cost than the finery forge. The rolling mill was fifteen times faster than hammering wrought iron. Developed in 1828, hot blast greatly increased fuel efficiency in iron production in the following decades.
- Transportation: The first efforts toward this end in Europe involved constructing improved overland roads. Canals were dug in both Europe and North America to create maritime corridors between existing waterways. Steam engines were recognized as useful in locomotion, resulting in the emergence of the steamboat in the early 19th century. High-pressure steam engines also powered railroad locomotives, which operated in Britain after 1825. Railways spread rapidly across Europe and North America, extending to Asia in the latter half of the 19th century. Railroads became one of the world’s leading industries as they expanded the frontiers of industrial society.
- Chemicals: This industry arose partly in response to the demand for improved bleaching solutions for cotton and other manufactured textiles. Other chemical research was motivated by the quest for artificial dyes, explosives, solvents, fertilizers, and medicines, including pharmaceuticals.
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Advantages of Industrialization
- The Industrial Revolution created an increase in employment opportunities. Wages at factories were higher than what individuals were making as farmers.
- It led to significant improvements in city planning.
- Increased innovation also led to higher levels of education, often resulting in several groundbreaking inventions still used today.
- The nation saw the first combustible engine, incandescent light bulb, and modern assembly line used in manufacturing.
Disadvantages Of Industrialization
- Industrial Revolution led to a shortage of food production.
- Unsanitary living conditions and pollution
- Deplorable working conditions and child labor
- Water supplies were not tested and protected as they are today
- living conditions was deplorable as the urban resources were overwhelmed