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The industrial revolution was a movement for change from agriculture to industry. It began during the 1780s, at the same time as the French and American Revolutions. Like most other revolutions the industrial revolution in Great Britain had many causes. The main five are, change in farming practices, population growth, food surplus, natural resources and a supply of markets.
As new approaches to farming became known in Great Britain, the amount of crops produced increased drastically. Because of the good weather many farmers were able to have more successful harvests and increase the size of their farmland. New plants were able to grow because of the milder climate. Now farmers could afford to sell their crops and buy other manufactured goods. Farmers could also afford newer and better transportation. Transportation like trains made it easier to get food to other places. It also took less time, so crops were less likely to spoil. Chan ...view middle of the document...
Because of the food surplus the British population grew. People were able to eat fresher and healthier foods. Which lead to a longer life expectancy. The population also affected the number of people able to work in cotton factories. The work force was much larger during the Industrial revolution. Even more new factories opened; the demand for cotton cloth was higher than ever. There were more people available to work in both agriculture and industry. But Great Britain was quickly becoming a more industrial country.
Great Britain has always been rich in natural resources like coal and iron ore. These resources were a major factor during the Industrial revolution. Coal was used to make and operate machinery in cotton factories. It was also used to operate transportation like trains. Iron ore was also an important resource during the Industrial revolution. Like coal it was used to operate machines. Rivers were used as a resource to power the machines in the factories. Rivers were also used as a method of transportation. The natural resources found in Great Britain were all major factors that contributed to the Industrial revolution.
As the demand for manufactured goods increased there was always a "ready outlet for goods". Countries all over the world wanted cotton cloth. Great Britain also had a huge empire which also led to the Industrial revolution. Ships could go anywhere to trade or sell the cotton cloth made. Domestic markets were widely available. This caused the prices of many necessities to decrease, making it even more affordable for people to buy things. The increase in cotton cloth sales made it possible for people in Britain to invest more money. New businesses were established. Many entrepreneurs found new ways to make profits.
Overall the factors that caused the Industrial revolution led to a rise in Great Britain's profits. The change in farming expanded the farmland available to farmers. Because of the food surplus the population grew which also increased the work force. This led to new factories powered by natural resources. As the demand for cotton cloth rose there was always a ready market for goods. All the factors caused a chain reaction until the Industrial revolution occurred. Each cause contributed to the change from agriculture to industry.
