INNOVATION IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Social Studies 9: Industrialization Unit

Class Objectives To know what advancements in

technology developed in this period and how they influenced progress and change

To understand how one change can lead to both positive and negative spiraling effects

The Spiraling Impact of ChangeWhat does the phrase spiraling impact mean?How could this term relate to the introduction of new technology?

Consider the following invention… What are the spiraling impacts of change that

have resulted from the invention of the car? Can we categorize these impacts in any way?- Immediate (short term), medium term, long-

term- Positive, negative (both for different groups)- Social, economic, political, environmental

Discuss with your partner:

Think of at least 3 other inventions that have had a spiraling impact (s).

What are the impacts and how would you categorize them?

Why assessing is the impact of inventions important? Improved technology can lead to incredible

benefits:- promoting further innovation, entrepreneurship and progress- providing jobs, improving lifestyles, benefiting the economy - helping people make aspects of their lives easier - Making transport, industry, travel faster and more efficient Improved technology can lead to problems:• Technology can have severe environmental impacts • Replacing old technologies can affect employment • Technology can have unexpected outcomes • To use/to not use can lead to conflict between different interest

groups

Innovation in 19th Century Britain There were numerous inventions and innovations in a number of fields in 19th Century Britain. What were the spiraling impacts of these ideas?

1. Agriculture Enclosure system enlarging farming fields Robert Bakewell’s selective livestock breeding Townshend’s crop rotation Tull’s seed drill

Innovation in 19th Century Britain Materials Coal mining pits Extraction of metals Development of products:Pig-iron, steel, cast-iron

Innovation in 19th Century Britain Transportation Steam Engine Canal system Railway network

Innovation in 19th Century Britain Factory System combine production in one place using

raw materials, power, machinery and labour

Sir Richard Awkright “Father of the Industrial Revolution”

Industrial Investments Activity

In small groups, you are going to participate in a Dragons Den style

business pitch, where your goal is to sell one of the important 19th Century inventions to a group of investors.

You will have 1.5 classes and 1 homework period to prepare your pitch

See task sheet for instructions