Issues like living conditions and James Hargreave’s “Spinning health, and labour, spark the Jenny” mechanised spinning growth and development of (1764) political change as people Richard Arkwright’s “Water demand improvements eg an Frame” (1771) converted this end to child labour (the Factory machine to water power. Acts). Arguably Arkwright was the of the industrial “father revolution” Samuel Crompton’s “Spinning Industrial change: cotton Mule” (1775) improved on – Arkwright’s invention The industrial revolution started in Edmund Cartwright’s Power Britain with the growth of the cotton Loom (1784) mechanised – industry. Cotton imported from the weaving, spelling disaster for southern US states (harvested by handloom weavers slave labour until abolition in 1807) The Steam Engine (James came in to west coast ports like Watt and Matthew Boulton, Liverpool and Glasgow. It was 1763) provided a new source – transported to cotton mills sited next of power which, once it was to fast flowing rivers. As these rivers fully developed in the 19th were located in nearby hills such as century, transformed cotton the Pennines or the hills of and other industries. It meant Lanarkshire, this is where the industry developed. Manchester became the that mills next to rivers closed cotton capital of the world, exporting and opened up near coal cotton goods all over the British mines. Fortuitously, the mines Empire. were not far away, in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Why was there a growing demand Lanarkshire. for cotton? It was cheap and easily made What were working conditions into clothing like? The traditional view that low paid More comfortable to wear than – child and female workers toiled for wool immensely long shifts in ghastly Soldiers uniforms during the conditions has been challenged, to Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) some extent, by recent research. A fast-growing population meant a fast-growing market Negatives with money to spend. Children as young as 6 toiled 10 hour shifts for very low pay. What machines were used in the were hot and damp, which factories? Several new inventions were hugely caused health problems. important in spurring the growth of the Unguarded machines were industry. Arguably, these inventors dangerous eg fingers could be changed the world with their crushed machines: Harsh discipline strict rules – with fines for rule-breakers eg
Issues like living conditions and health, and labour, spark the growth and development of political change as people demand improvements eg an end to child labour (the Factory Acts). Industrial change: cotton The industrial revolution started in Britain with the growth of the cotton industry. Cotton imported from the southern US states (harvested by slave labour until abolition in 1807) came in to west coast ports like Liverpool and Glasgow. It was transported to cotton mills sited next to fast flowing rivers. As these rivers were located in nearby hills such as the Pennines or the hills of Lanarkshire, this is where the industry developed. Manchester became the cotton capital of the world, exporting cotton goods all over the British Empire. Why was there a growing demand for cotton? It was cheap and easily made into clothing More comfortable to wear than wool Soldiers uniforms during the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) A fast-growing population meant a fast-growing market with money to spend. What machines were used in the factories? Several new inventions were hugely important in spurring the growth of the industry. Arguably, these inventors changed the world with their machines: James Hargreave’s “Spinning Jenny” mechanised spinning (1764) Richard Arkwright’s “Water Frame” (1771) converted this machine to water power. Arguably Arkwright was the “father of the industrial revolution” Samuel Crompton’s “Spinning Mule” (1775) – improved on Arkwright’s invention Edmund Cartwright’s Power Loom (1784) – mechanised weaving, spelling disaster for handloom weavers The Steam Engine (James Watt and Matthew Boulton, 1763) – provided a new source of power which, once it was fully developed in the 19th century, transformed cotton and other industries. It meant that mills next to rivers closed and opened up near coal mines. Fortuitously, the mines were not far away, in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Lanarkshire. What were working conditions like? The traditional view – that low paid child and female workers toiled for immensely long shifts in ghastly conditions has been challenged, to some extent, by recent research. Negatives Children as young as 6 toiled 10 hour shifts for very low pay. were hot and damp, which caused health problems. Unguarded machines were dangerous eg fingers could be crushed Harsh discipline – strict rules with fines for rule-breakers eg
N5-History-prelim-revision-notes-2016.docx