preview

European Nations And Its Impact On The United States

Decent Essays

European nations eager to enhance their wealth and power took the lead in the early 1800’s when Britain became the first to advance from an agrarian life style to an industry based economy. Britain was able to make the switch easier and quicker than other nations because they not only had the drive to do so, they also had a large labor force supported by an ample food supply, that worked in factories to make low cost goods from raw material that was shipped in on a transportation system. Using their brute strength they forced foreign nations to provide raw material, and to provide a place to sell their low-cost goods.
Technological advancements changed the way that food was produced, with steam and water powered equipment, farms were able to produce more food with less labor increasing the yield per harvest. The increase in supply meant more people were able to get the nutritious food that they needed to survive. Along with ample food, vaccinations, and new found love for tea, “an efficient and convenient water-purification technology that dramatically reduced the prevalence of waterborne diseases,” the mortality rate dramatically decreases. “From 1750 to 1850, despite extensive emigration to America, the British population grew from roughly six million to twenty million” supplying the large, low-cost labor force that Britain needed for its Industrial Revolution.
Britain’s land contained vast resources such as iron and coal. The iron was used to build machines, ships

Get Access