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The Industrial Revolution Begins

Driving Question: What factors drove the expansion of industrial production and ultimately led to the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution led to rapid change in the world. This lesson focuses on the origins of the Industrial Revolution, the global transformations that occurred as a result, and the long-term impacts of the rise of industrialization.

Learning Objectives

  1. Analyze the scale of the Industrial Revolution and its impact on various regions of the world.
  2. Evaluate how the Industrial Revolution changed states and societies in the long nineteenth century.
  3. Describe how innovations made possible by the Industrial Revolution developed and changed over time.
  4. Explain how environmental factors contributed to industrialization from 1750 to 1900.

Vocab Terms:

  • fossil fuel
  • industrial capitalist
  • industrialization
  • innovation
  • locomotion
  • manufacture
  • textile
STEP 1

Opener: Industrial Revolution Begins

You’ve learned a lot about revolutions. Before you learn about the Industrial Revolution, reflect on what the ingredients of revolution are.

STEP 2

Macartney’s Expedition and the Global Economy

How did the global economy shift from Asia to Europe in the nineteenth century? The answer may lie with Lord Macartney and his expedition to China in 1793.

Macartney’s Expedition and the Global Economy External link

In 1793, the global economy was centered in East and South Asia, not in Europe. The British embassy led by Lord Macartney wanted to change that. The results of this expedition may surprise you.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 3

Scale of the Industrial Revolution

Have you ever thought about exactly when certain historical events first started? Can it always be narrowed down to one date or one event?

STEP 4

Origins of the Industrial Revolution

What factors allow one to be first in something? Is it luck? Is it skill? In the case of Britain, it was a combination of many factors: environmental, economic, and even its global reach.

Origins of the Industrial Revolution External link

During the long nineteenth century, Britain had several advantages that allowed it to industrialize first. What were they? Let’s travel to England to mine for answers.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

The Industrial Revolution

Natural resources led to a massive expansion of industry and trade in the nineteenth century. But why did it happen in some places and not others?

STEP 6

Images of the Industrial Revolution

You’ve heard the expression a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well, we don’t expect you to write thousands of words, but you will explore pre- and post-industrialization images to identify change over time!

STEP 7

Closer: Industrial Revolution Begins

Earlier in the lesson, you reviewed what you knew about the ingredients needed for a revolution. Now that you know about the Industrial Revolution, has your shopping list changed?