Why Great Britain Started the Industrial Revolution

Why Great Britain Started the Industrial Revolution

1. Labour

   • Enclosure mvt.
   • Pop grew on base of 18th cent. pop explosion
   • Better forms of transportation, allowed ppl to migrate cities.
     • By 1850, 1/2 of pop of England & Whales and 1/4 of pop of France & Germany became town-dwellers

2. Capital

   • IR grew on itself
   • $$ made in early industries=reinvested (eg. textile, iron-making)

3. Markets

   • The end of FR and wars of Napoleon opened continent to British products
   • Latin American wars of independence opened markets of Central and South AMerica
   • US and Canada demand for British products
   • Through control of India, Britiain command markets of southern Asia

4. Transportation

   • Canals
   • Railways: 1830's and 40's=age of railway building

5. Entrepreneurship

   • Strong middle class
   • Liberal nobles willing to invest in new ideas

6. Government Support

   • Strong navy=protects merchant ships
   • Commercially minded parliament
   • Few laws limit entrepreneurs' actions