Why Great Britain Started the Industrial Revolution
Labour
enclosure movement
population continued to grow on the base of
the 18th-century population explosion
better forms of transportation (such as the railway) allowed people to
migrate to the cities…by 1850, one-half of the population of England
and Whales and one-quarter of the population of France and Germany
had become town-dwellers
Natural Resources
Coal
Iron
Ore
Capital
Industrial Revolution grew on itself
money made in early industries (textile,
iron-making, etc.) was reinvested
Markets
the end of the French Revolution and the wars of
Napoleon opened the continent up to British
products
he Latin American wars of independence opened the
markets of Central and South America
the United States and Canada
demanded British products
through its control of India, Britain
commanded the markets of southern Asia
Transportation
Canals
railways: 1830s and 1840s were the great age of railway building
Entrepreneurship
Strong middle class
liberal nobles who were willing to
invest in new ventures