Industrial Revolution

By Sdeen
  • The change from charcoal to coal

    Abraham Darby sold iron produced by a coal fueled furnace, which was cheaper than fuel.
  • New fuel

    Coke, a by product of coal and Britain has a lot of coal
  • Worsley to Manchester canal

    Francis Egerton completed the first stage of his project to connect Worsley to Manchester via a canal - known as the Bridgewater canal
  • Industrial Revolution Start

    Britain was the first to experience the industrial revolution, followed by France, Germany, and the US
  • Spinning Jenny

    Hargreaves creation of a multi spindle spinning wheel, allowing for faster spinning of wool or cotton.
  • Steam pumps

    Discovered by James Watt. They were efficient enough to be used in production
  • Water frame

    Richard Arkwright combined the water wheel and the spinning jenny to create this, which would allow one unskilled worker to be able to produce 100+ threads
  • War of Independence (America)

    fought between the thirteen colonies and Britain, led to the colonies gaining independence and was partly fueled by resentment over trade restrictions and taxes like the Navigation Acts and Stamp Act Ended in 1783
  • Manchester to Liverpool canal

    Was an extension from the Worsley to Manchester canal
  • Wealth of Nations

    Published by Enlightenment thinker Adam Smith. It was a very influential piece, becoming the Bible for British manufacturers who embraced the laissez faire philosophy.
  • Canal mania

    An era of privately funded canal construction schemes. Ended in 1810
  • Coal

    Every aspect of industrialisation relied on coal, Britain had 90% of it
  • Iron

    7% of Britain's national income came from iron exports
  • Napoleonic war ends

    Free trade with Europe becomes possible
  • Stockington to Darlington

    Railways were first used in coal mines, but they soon began to eclipse canals. The first to be built was the one above, made transport so much easier that the price of coal dropped 50% in the area
  • Liverpool to Manchester railway

    Built by George Stephenson and was largely funded by the middle class purchasing shares in the railway company.
  • Great Reform Act

    Made industrial towns more influential in parliament
  • Repeal of the Navigation Acts

    Partly blamed for the loss of American colonies, opened British trade fully to foreign shipping, major step in Britain’s move towards free trade.
  • Coal industries

    216,000 men employed in the industry, life expectancy dropped to 40 years
  • Steam powered ships

    Steam powered ships overtook sailing ships as the vehicle of international trade