The Yorkshire Canal And The Industrial Revolution

By Definition, a rapid major change in an economy (as in England in the late 18th century) marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery, or by an important change in the prevailing types and methods of use of such machines.- Merriam- Webster This definition over simplifies the industrial revolution. In reality the Industrial Revolution was much more complex and encompasses many different aspects. With that said the events that led to the Industrial Revolution were even more complicated. How and why Great Britain was the first to lead the Revolution was multifaceted and involves many aspects of economic and social developments. The predisposition of easily acquired recourse and healthy state politics allowed Great Britain to prosper. A core piece of the Industrial revolution was the advent of new technology. This technology would increase the production and efficiency of all factories. As more and more people flooded the cities and towns the demand for more goods skyrocketed pushing civilization into a new age. The Industrial Revolution was a cycle that feed itself, with need came technology and with technology came need and through this process arose new society. What led Great Britain to become the first country to star in the Industrial Revolution, comes down to a complex system of factors. Each aspect holds a major role in the contribution in the growth of the Industrial Revolution and of Great Britain.

The economy of England during the 18th century was one that needed rebuilding after many years of war with other countries. A breakthrough of new technology and ideas boosted the economy, creating a time known commonly as the Industrial Revolution. Specifically, there was one invention that defined the Industrial Revolution. The steam engine, a device powered by coal used to run machines at an efficient rate, was developed during the Industrial Revolution. The invention of the steam engine had a major effect on the economy of England during the Industrial Revolution through its use in mining, transportation, and factories.

To start off, England had all the natural resources needed to industrialize. England had a natural supply of wool, cotton, coal, iron, lead, and tin (doc 1). These are all resources that are needed and helpful when industrializing. Wool and cotton are especially good for the textile industry, whereas iron was great for making tools and machinery. Along with these resources, England’s location enabled trading due to it’s many waterways. You can not be more than 70 miles from the sea in England (doc 4). Even the animals in the country were an advantage. For example, the sheep in England gave off the best wool (doc 4). Having natural resources helped England industrialize because it saved the country from having to trade, and/or travel to other countries in order to get what they needed. So many of the natural resources needed to industrialize were found in England. England had everything from coal to power

However the biggest advantage Britain had that spurred their modern thinking into industrial factories was its geography. England had fast flowing rivers that were effective to power water mills for machinery, and provided transportation routes for industrial goods. The weak point about rivers was that in winter they froze, stopping the water powered machinery and blocking routes (Little, n.d.). This leads to the true geographical advantage of Britain, one that wasn’t stop by the effects of seasons: high deposits of coal and iron ore. Coal was able to power the newly invented steam engine, which was a breakthrough leading to large scale industries (Little, n.d.).

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain during the late 1700s. It took place during the 18th and 19th centuries. Document 3 displays the look of the environment at the beginning of this shift in society. It is filled with smoky chimneys. Machines and factories led to great productions, such as new systems of transportation, more efficient communication, banking systems, a variety of manufactured goods, and an overall improvement of living. Britain was the perfect place for the Industrial Revolution to begin due to its coal and iron. Factories became a necessity because of the increase in demand for British goods (Staff, 2009). Before the Industrial Revolution, transportation consisted of wagons, led by horses. “In the early 1800s, American Robert Fulton built the first commercially successful steamboat” (Staff, 2009). Along

Great Britain was the first country to really experience industrialization. A combination of the small country, agricultural improvements, large population growth, increases in national wealth, and access to cheap materials and mineral resources allowed the Industrial Revolution to grow in Britain. Because Britain was such a small area of land, the transport of goods and materials was cheap through roads, rivers, and canals. Agricultural improvements resulted in an increase in the production of food which allowed people more disposable income in which they could purchase manufactured goods. Large population growth supplied abundances of laborers who could be employed in factories. Access to cheap materials from Asia and the Americas and mineral resources increased national wealth which allowed industrialization to continue.

Henry Clay thought of a way to help the American business by creating the American System that consisted in tariffs, the creation of the National Bank, Roads and Canals. Tariffs were taxes imposed on imported goods that made citizens buy American products at a cheaper price, the creation of a National Bank would improve the Nation financing and make trade easier. The creation of roads and canals would help the transportation of goods also, it would make trade faster and efficient. The First Industrial Revolution consisted on the period that technology and economy evolved, during that time machines were created in order to help with mass production. For example, the steam engine helped to industries, improved transportation and

“The water-frame used the waterpower from fast-flowing streams to drive spinning wheels.” (course reader 102) Then there was the introduction of the steam engine and power-loom. Due to an expired patent, James Watt decided to create his version of the steam engine for use in a cotton mill plant and introduced a system for the factory that was revolutionary. As a result, wages and manufacturing of cotton and iron really increased. This helped get more work done in less time and gave people jobs. (Document 2) The steam engines also helped get the economy ramped up by being able to bring supplies to the cities and more jobs to people. The steam engines provided jobs because they needed miners, engineers, and sailors who could build the canals and railroads for this transportation. As a result, they could bring supplies to the cities which also increased farmland available to produce more food for everyone. (Document 3) The steam engine brought in railroad development, industrialization and changes to the population. (Document 9) With the growth of railways and transportation, from 1801-1851, many cities were developed within the central part of Great Britain and the population

In the early 19th century rural worker produced their own goods and were very self sufficient. Farm families grew their own crops and raised their own animals and made their own clothing, candles, and soap. They would sell those products at markets for money to buy certain products that couldn't be produced on their own. By the middle of the 19th century, America, especially in the Northeast, became more industrialized. This spurred on a Market Revolution. People were buying and selling goods instead of making it for personal use. This caused big changes in not only the US economy, but in the daily lives of Americans. The incomes of everyday Americans rose as goods and services grew. Inventions such as the textile mill and interchangeable parts played a huge role in the improvements and growth of factories in the North. Interchangeable parts allowed mass production and strengthened industry. With the Market Revolution came an Economic Revolution. This impacted communication as well as transportation. The telegraph, invented in 1837, allowed instantaneous communication and railroads allowed safe, reliable, and quick transportation. Water transportation, such as steamboats and canals, made it easier to move heavy machinery and raw materials. The building of canals and railroads required a large amount of workers. The labor demand grew which caused many immigrants to come to America for new opportunities to make a living. The investment in canals and railroads also turned the Northeast into the center of commerce in America, and after opening the Eerie Canal, New York City became the main link between agriculture in America and European markets. The improvements in transportation and communication aided in allowing Americans in different regions to keep in touch in addition to creating interdependencies and markets.

One specific innovation or act that impacted North American economy was the Navigation Acts passed between 1650 and 1673. These prompted trading to established by English or colonial built ships which opened up some pros and some cons. These acts enabled New England shipbuilding to prosper but it severely limited the development of colonial manufacturing and caused colonists to pay high prices for manufactured goods from England. Ships played a major role in during the colonial period because it was used highly for trading especially during the triangular trade routes, helping to transport slaves and different goods to and fro the colonies. Navigable water routes provided easy transport of materials compared to the rough and narrow land routes. Thus many harbors and taverns sprouted up in areas such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Charleston. Taverns soon became places where information was exchanges as well causing an increase in social interactions. The early 1800s boomed with massive changes in transportation helping to move both people, manufactured goods and raw materials proving to be a vital part of the industrial economy. Innovations didn’t stop there as the Western part of North America grew so did transportations, pioneers could easily reach the frontier due to the many new transportations methods such as canals, roads and steamboats as well and railroads. For example, the Pennsylvania’s Lancaster turnpike connected around Lancaster initiated the building of other short toll roads which by the mid-1820s connected most of the major cities. Another example would be the famous building of the Eerie Canal completed in 1825, the success of the canal stimulated economic growth and also created the construction of other canals in other states

The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 played a critical role in the Market Revolution because it allowed trade and travel to occur more often, thus lowering prices and encouraging economic competition.

The winter in January in 1805, Lewis and Clark spend time with the Mandan and Hidatsa villages in central North Dakota (lecture). From there they strike into an unmapped territory. The winter time was a rough one for Lewis and Clark. They struggled to find food and diseases impacted them greatly. Malaria was the biggest disease that affected Lewis and Clark.

Industries could use these natural resources. For example, machines could be built out of iron, powered by coal, and would use the wool to spin thread. England also had favorable natural conditions that led to England’s success, according to George Warner. Canals provided outlets to the sea so that goods could be transported quicker. Industrialization was aided by seaports and proximity to harbors or rivers.

The Industrial Revolution was the main contributor of the development of factories and modern day machinery. The Industrial Revolution created hundreds of new jobs, influenced many new inventions, and created many new ways of creating and transporting goods. Many jobs including spinners, miners, factory workers, and farmers were beginning to rise in population, due to the new technology being created in the 18th and 19th centuries. The start of new inventions coming into view was beginning in Britain, with many agricultural tools creating new ways to plow and yield crops. Later on, it caused new forms of transportation to be developed, for example, railroads and canals. This essay will explain exactly how these causes began, and how they

This canal went from Francis’ Worsley coal mines to the city of Manchester. After in 1800 about 3,000 miles of canals had been built in Britain (167). Up until the 1800s the easiest way to travel a large load was by a ferry. This made it easier for materials to reach factories that were heavy like heavy loads of coal and iron. They also dug canals to supplement their river systems. Although England was not the only one that dug canals during around this time period, Germany and France were also digging canals and waterways (Corrick 38).