1
Grade 8 Oxford Successful Social Sciences
Ch
The Industrial Revolution in Britain and
Southern Africa in 1860
Changes during the Industrial Revolution in Britain
The Industrial Revolution started in Britain over two hundred years ago.
It changed the way products were made (products started being mass produced) and the lifestyle of
people (most people lived in cities and both transport and communications were improved).
It was the start of the modern world as we know it today.
Wealth from the Slave Trade
As a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade, many Millions of Africans were forcibly conscripted into the
British merchants became wealthy. Atlantic slave trade, also known as the triangle trade,
They made profits by transporting raw and transported to the Americas where they were
compelled to labour for free under very cruel conditions.
materials made by slaves (such as sugar and When Britain was the most active commercial nation in
cotton) to Britain. the 18th century, trade was at its peak.
They used these profits to create new
machinery and build factories.
Causes of the Industrial Revolution in Britain:
1) Wealth from the Slave Trade
2) Changes in Farming
o Britain's farmers began to produce more food and use better methods of farming on large
commercial farms.
o The population of Britain began to grow.
o Since they could not afford to buy land or adopt the new farming techniques, many poor people
relocated to the towns in search of jobs.
3) Natural Resources
o Coal and iron ore were abundant in Britain.
o It also had a lot of rivers that were to be used for the transportation of goods.
o Since much of Britain was very flat, canals were constructed to connect the rivers.
o Britain’s long coastline with many harbours also improved trade.
4) Changes in Technology
Steam was the first type of
o New machines were created to perform tasks that people energy employed during the
previously performed by hand. Industrial Revolution. This was
o These new devices could function more quickly, created by heating water with
inexpensively, accurately, and with greater strength. coal. Therefore, having a lot of
coal aided Britain's development.
o The machines also used new forms of power (gas, oil,
steam, and later electricity).
o The new equipment was installed in factories (large buildings where manufactured goods
were made).
o People that relocated to the towns from the countryside went to work in the new factories.
© E-Loné Scheepers 2022
, 2
Grade 8 Oxford Successful Social Sciences
5) New Forms of Transport
o Steam locomotives were invented.
o This invention meant that trucks and wagons could be transported on rails.
o Compared to traveling by road, this was significantly faster and inexpensive.
o A system of canals was constructed in order to move heavy items by water.
o Iron was utilized to construct larger structures and more durable bridges.
o Better, harder-surfaced roads were put in place of the uneven, muddy ones.
o The new modes of transportation made it simpler and less expensive to move manufactured
items to markets as well as raw materials (such coal and iron) to the factories.
The economy before the Industrial Revolution
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the majority of people residing in Britain lived in rural areas or
small towns.
They typically kept a few animals and grew plants for food on narrow plots of land.
The economy of Britain was dependent on agriculture.
People produced things (like fabric) by hand, typically in their homes or in scaled-down
establishments known as cottage industries.
Local markets were used to sell these handmade goods.
Roads were poor.
The only modes of transportation were walking, riding horses, or using animal-drawn carts and
wagons.
Traveling was expensive and challenging.
- Many people remain in the villages where they were born throughout their entire lives.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution altered how people previously lived since manual labour was replaced by
machinery.
Since the new machinery were too big to fit in homes, factories were constructed.
Trade increased as factories manufactured more goods.
New communities grew as new towns were established near the factories.
These small towns were frequently close to mines that generated raw materials (such coal or iron
ore) or to rivers and canals that were used for transportation.
These towns were connected by railways, and more people relocated to the towns from small
villages.
Britain's economy now relied heavily on industry.
Social Changes during the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution caused significant changes in the way people lived and worked.
1) Urbanisation and Living Conditions
o Urbanization refers to the process through which towns expanded as more people relocated
there in search of work.
o thousands of new homes were constructed as rapidly and inexpensively as possible.
o There were few windows, running water, or toilets in the dwellings, which were packed closely
together and gloomy, damp, and unhygienic.
o Life in the industrial towns was challenging.
o Garbage was left on the streets to decay.
o Water supplies were polluted, and factory smoke contaminated the air.
o Illnesses and diseases spread quickly.
o Epidemics caused thousands of deaths (20% of children died before the age of 5).
o In the new industrial towns, there were also issues with unemployment and crime.
© E-Loné Scheepers 2022
Grade 8 Oxford Successful Social Sciences
Ch
The Industrial Revolution in Britain and
Southern Africa in 1860
Changes during the Industrial Revolution in Britain
The Industrial Revolution started in Britain over two hundred years ago.
It changed the way products were made (products started being mass produced) and the lifestyle of
people (most people lived in cities and both transport and communications were improved).
It was the start of the modern world as we know it today.
Wealth from the Slave Trade
As a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade, many Millions of Africans were forcibly conscripted into the
British merchants became wealthy. Atlantic slave trade, also known as the triangle trade,
They made profits by transporting raw and transported to the Americas where they were
compelled to labour for free under very cruel conditions.
materials made by slaves (such as sugar and When Britain was the most active commercial nation in
cotton) to Britain. the 18th century, trade was at its peak.
They used these profits to create new
machinery and build factories.
Causes of the Industrial Revolution in Britain:
1) Wealth from the Slave Trade
2) Changes in Farming
o Britain's farmers began to produce more food and use better methods of farming on large
commercial farms.
o The population of Britain began to grow.
o Since they could not afford to buy land or adopt the new farming techniques, many poor people
relocated to the towns in search of jobs.
3) Natural Resources
o Coal and iron ore were abundant in Britain.
o It also had a lot of rivers that were to be used for the transportation of goods.
o Since much of Britain was very flat, canals were constructed to connect the rivers.
o Britain’s long coastline with many harbours also improved trade.
4) Changes in Technology
Steam was the first type of
o New machines were created to perform tasks that people energy employed during the
previously performed by hand. Industrial Revolution. This was
o These new devices could function more quickly, created by heating water with
inexpensively, accurately, and with greater strength. coal. Therefore, having a lot of
coal aided Britain's development.
o The machines also used new forms of power (gas, oil,
steam, and later electricity).
o The new equipment was installed in factories (large buildings where manufactured goods
were made).
o People that relocated to the towns from the countryside went to work in the new factories.
© E-Loné Scheepers 2022
, 2
Grade 8 Oxford Successful Social Sciences
5) New Forms of Transport
o Steam locomotives were invented.
o This invention meant that trucks and wagons could be transported on rails.
o Compared to traveling by road, this was significantly faster and inexpensive.
o A system of canals was constructed in order to move heavy items by water.
o Iron was utilized to construct larger structures and more durable bridges.
o Better, harder-surfaced roads were put in place of the uneven, muddy ones.
o The new modes of transportation made it simpler and less expensive to move manufactured
items to markets as well as raw materials (such coal and iron) to the factories.
The economy before the Industrial Revolution
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the majority of people residing in Britain lived in rural areas or
small towns.
They typically kept a few animals and grew plants for food on narrow plots of land.
The economy of Britain was dependent on agriculture.
People produced things (like fabric) by hand, typically in their homes or in scaled-down
establishments known as cottage industries.
Local markets were used to sell these handmade goods.
Roads were poor.
The only modes of transportation were walking, riding horses, or using animal-drawn carts and
wagons.
Traveling was expensive and challenging.
- Many people remain in the villages where they were born throughout their entire lives.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution altered how people previously lived since manual labour was replaced by
machinery.
Since the new machinery were too big to fit in homes, factories were constructed.
Trade increased as factories manufactured more goods.
New communities grew as new towns were established near the factories.
These small towns were frequently close to mines that generated raw materials (such coal or iron
ore) or to rivers and canals that were used for transportation.
These towns were connected by railways, and more people relocated to the towns from small
villages.
Britain's economy now relied heavily on industry.
Social Changes during the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution caused significant changes in the way people lived and worked.
1) Urbanisation and Living Conditions
o Urbanization refers to the process through which towns expanded as more people relocated
there in search of work.
o thousands of new homes were constructed as rapidly and inexpensively as possible.
o There were few windows, running water, or toilets in the dwellings, which were packed closely
together and gloomy, damp, and unhygienic.
o Life in the industrial towns was challenging.
o Garbage was left on the streets to decay.
o Water supplies were polluted, and factory smoke contaminated the air.
o Illnesses and diseases spread quickly.
o Epidemics caused thousands of deaths (20% of children died before the age of 5).
o In the new industrial towns, there were also issues with unemployment and crime.
© E-Loné Scheepers 2022
