What was the Industrial Revolution? & How did it change Britain?

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Amit Karia                                                                         02 May 2007

Inventions

In 1769, James Watt sparked the Industrial Revolution. His steam engine's large cylinders posed a vexing problem. They had to be precise in interior size so that steam could not leak between cylinder and piston. John Wilkinson invented a precision horizontal-boring machine in 1775. Wilkinson's machine made efficient steam engines possible. The steam engine cylinder could not be manufactured until machine tools had been devised that were capable of producing accurate parts. Henry Maudslay developed the first engine lathe and developed an improved micrometer.  Joseph Whitworth developed in 1830, a measuring instrument accurate to a millionth of an inch.

During the Industrial Revolution working and living patterns changed dramatically For Example: Before the Industrial Revolution all weaving and fabric making was done at home many families created fabric for a living at home and it was no stressful easy life. During and after the Industrial Revolution all fabric work was done in big factories by big machines the man Sir Richard Arkwright was responsible for this. Work in factories was tiring long 12-15 hour shifts in dusty, damp, cold and generally uncomfortable conditions.

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        The Industrial Revolution changed and introduced many industries. The main introductions were the coal and iron mining and the usage of steam power and iron. The agricultural no longer the main sources of income to most homes people began working in factories rather than the home the factories used the newly invented machinery, which powered by steam and were made with iron. Much work was done in mines to mine coal and iron ore to power and make the machinery used in the factories. There were many good points about the factory work and they were: production of products ...

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