The Industrial Revolution was the
transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to
sometime between 1820 and 1840. This transition included going from hand
production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production
processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam
power.
Industrial revolution features
There was a change from the ’Domestic System’ to the ’Factory System.’ In the Domestic
System, people used to work in their own homes, on hand-operated machinery that
they owned. The capitalists distributed the raw material to the people and
collected the finished product, by paying wages for it. However, in the Factory
System, many workmen were assembled in one unit. They worked on power-driven
machines, under supervision, thus establishing a wage tie between capital and
labor.
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Under the
Domestic System, there was a very small output. Under the Factory System, large
quantities of goods could be manufactured, owing to power driven machines and
mass production.
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Manufacturers used new basic materials such as
iron and steel.
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New energy sources like coal, electricity,
petroleum and steam were made use of.
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New machines were invented such as the
Spinning Jenny, the Power Loom, the Cotton Gin, Davy’s Safety Lamp and the
Steam Engine.
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Science was increasingly applied to industry.
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There was an agrarian revolution, which made a
great improvement in the quality and quantity in agriculture.
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Finally
the Industrial Revolution introduced radical socio-economic, political,
cultural and psychological changes in society
