How Was Britain Able to Establish Itself as the 'Workshop of the World'?

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How Was Britain Able to Establish Itself as the 'Workshop of the World'?

During the period of 1780 to 1846, Britain established itself as the world's largest industrial country, or in the words of a journalist from the time the 'Workshop of the World'. Britain produced many raw materials, which were used for industry, in Britain and throughout the world. As a result of trade Britain became a very wealthy country. Prior to 1780 Britain realised the beneficial factors it could develop to become a well organised, industrialized society. Trade and overseas trade was the biggest of factors, which allowed Britain to establish itself as the 'Workshop of the World', but other factor included mechanisation and transport. Just how did these factors assist Britain in its transformation into a 'well oiled' society?

Trade in 1780 expanded on a worldwide scale. Britain was at the centre of this expansion. At the time of the industrial revolution Britain had an expanse of world in its possession. The British Empire consisted of countries such as America and India, both that had mass products of export. As Phil Chapple said in his book The Industrialisation of Britain 1780-1914 overseas trade was a