The Modern Period, c. 1750 to c. 1914: Content Summary 5.3: The First Industrial Revolution

Several factors, including favorable geography, access to raw materials, and surplus labor, led to the revolution.

Britain had large deposits of coal and iron ore located near rivers and ocean ports.

Britain was a colonial, commercial, and maritime power; as such, it had access to overseas sources of raw materials (e.g., cotton) as well as to markets for finished goods.

Mechanized production of cotton textiles in factories, initially in northwest England, was the most important part of Britain’s manufacturing economy.

Mechanized production of cotton textiles in factories, initially in northwest England, was the most important part of Britain’s manufacturing economy.

New technologies, such as the cotton gin, spinning jenny, and power loom, improved the efficiency of textile production.

New technologies, such as the cotton gin, spinning jenny, and power loom, improved the efficiency of textile production.

Industrialization dramatically increased British manufacturing output.

As industrialization spread, the production of Western economies far surpassed that of Eastern economies, which did not industrialize until the 20th century.

Unlike the Qing Dynasty, Western governments adopted policies in the early 19th century designed to encourage industrialization.

Over the course of that century, while Western industrial economies continued to thrive, China experienced a scarcity of capital and resources thanks to a rapidly growing population and little economic growth.

Over the course of that century, while Western industrial economies continued to thrive, China experienced a scarcity of capital and resources thanks to a rapidly growing population and little economic growth.