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The Industrial Revolution

An Age of Revolutions (1750–1914)

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Key inventions

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Innovations in machinery spread into the manufacture of many different types of goods.The need to transport raw materials and finished products faster and more easily required an effort to build railroad systems throughout Europe.More roads were built and were better maintained to improve the transportation of goods.Science gained more and more acceptance as its practical uses were highlighted.New cities emerged, especially in port towns and small towns that had a strong base in textile production.

Effects of early industrialization

Many improvements resulted from early industrialization:

How do you think this affected ordinary people?

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Urbanization

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Rising standards of living

As industrialization continued to expand, people’s overall standard of living improved.

Healthcare improved.Life expectancy improved.More goods became available.Disposable income increased.Desire for goods increased.

In Britain, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose from $1,707 to $3,191 between 1820 and 1870, and life expectancy rose from just 40 years in 1820 to 50 years in 1900.

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GDP and life expectancy