INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Industrial Revolution

Shawna Kloubek

HIS 04: World Civilizations II

The Industrial Revolution

Professor Harn

08/13/1

Industrial Revolution

An Industrial Revolution is the shift at different times from a traditionally agricultural based economy to one based on the mechanized production of manufactured goods on a large scale(Bookshelf 1994). By definition, industrialization leads to a rise of national income per capita as well as changes in the distribution of income, living and working conditions. The Industrial Revolution was the transformation of the production of handmade good to ones made by machines.

The first attempt at American Industrialization was by Eli Whitney. He introduced and developed the idea of interchangeable parts rather than custom parts. This allowed some broken products such as guns, to be fixed at a lower cost. Whitney also invented the cotton gin in 1798. Sir Richard Arkwright used Whitney's cotton gin in developing new methods of weaving cloths. As a result, textiles, particularly cotton goods were the major factory made products during the early 19th century.

James Watts' steam engine was one of the biggest technological breakthroughs in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. It enabled many factory owners to operate without being close to a constant water supply. The steam engine also lead to the development of the steam locomotive and steam powered ships.

The Industrial Revolution sparked the start of the changes that would enhance our world and help build a brighter and better tomorrow. At the time, the thought of having a machine make products for you was a novelty. People looked at these machines with awe and admiration. People continued to improve upon the machinery. A great example of someone who was a pioneer of industry in the early 20th century was Henry Ford. He came up with the idea of the assembly line.

It totally revolutionized the manufacturing business because one person created one part of a product instead of creating the whole product by himself. The assembly line allowed for more products to be made faster and at a lower cost.

In perhaps one of the most critical turning points in the world's history, the Industrial Revolution ushered in an age of unparalleled technological advancements and economic expansion so immense, that its impact can still be felt today. Lasting from the late1800s until the1960s, the industrial age dramatically altered almost every facet of life. Beginning with the growth of the steal industry, which would later lead to led to the development of the first steam engines and the construction of improved shipping canals a new transportation infrastructure emerged. In a push towards newer, more efficient and innovative ways of performing tasks, the twentieth century began as the world's agrarian focus shifted to the mass production of industrial goods. For the first time in history the composition of the work force shifted as farmers and other manual laborers became entered the ranks of the newly formed blue-collar workers.

Characterized by a rapid, almost exponential, expansion of the economy, the industrial age marks a formative time in the history of business. The concept of expansion of ...