Glossary
Adam Smith
A Scottish economist and philosopher, considered the father of modern economics, who advocated for free markets and limited government intervention.
Example:
Adam Smith's ideas, particularly from 'The Wealth of Nations,' profoundly influenced the economic policies that fostered the Industrial Revolution.
Agricultural Revolution
A period of significant agricultural development in Britain during the 18th century, characterized by new farming techniques and inventions that led to increased food production.
Example:
Innovations like crop rotation and selective breeding during the Agricultural Revolution led to a population boom, providing a larger workforce for emerging factories.
Capitalism
An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and distribution, where investments are determined by private decision rather than by state control.
Example:
The funding of new textile factories by private investors seeking profit exemplifies the principles of capitalism driving industrial growth in Britain.
Coal
A combustible black sedimentary rock, primarily composed of carbon, which was a vital fuel source during the Industrial Revolution.
Example:
Britain's abundant reserves of coal were essential for powering steam engines and fueling iron production, driving industrial expansion.
Corn Laws
Tariffs and other trade restrictions on imported food and grain enforced in Great Britain between 1815 and 1846, designed to keep grain prices high to benefit domestic producers.
Example:
The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 was a victory for industrialists and urban workers, as it led to cheaper food imports and reduced the cost of living.
Cottage System
A pre-industrial system of manufacturing where production was carried out in homes, typically by families, often involving textile work.
Example:
The efficiency of new factory machinery quickly outcompeted the slower, less productive cottage system, leading to its decline and the displacement of many rural workers.
Cotton Gin
A machine invented by Eli Whitney that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a process that was previously very labor-intensive.
Example:
The Cotton Gin dramatically increased the profitability of cotton production in the American South, inadvertently strengthening the institution of slavery to meet the demand from British textile mills.
Enclosure Acts
A series of laws passed in England that allowed landowners to consolidate previously communal or open fields into privately owned, fenced-off land.
Example:
The Enclosure Acts displaced many peasants from their traditional lands, forcing them to seek work in urban factories and contributing to the industrial labor supply.
Free Markets
An economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses, without significant government intervention.
Example:
The repeal of the Corn Laws aimed to create more free markets for grain, benefiting industrialists and urban workers by lowering food prices.
Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace (1851)
An international exhibition held in London in 1851, showcasing the industrial, technological, and cultural achievements of various nations, particularly Britain.
Example:
The Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace served as a grand display of Britain's industrial dominance, featuring innovative machinery and goods from around the world.
Hungry 40s
A period of severe food shortages, economic hardship, and social unrest in Britain and other parts of Europe during the 1840s, exacerbated by poor harvests and high food prices.
Example:
The Hungry 40s highlighted the vulnerability of urban populations to food supply issues and contributed to calls for economic reforms like the repeal of the Corn Laws.
Iron
A strong, malleable metallic element, crucial for constructing machinery, railroads, and buildings during the Industrial Revolution.
Example:
The availability of iron allowed for the construction of durable new machinery and the expansion of railway networks, transforming transportation and manufacturing.
Luddites
Groups of English textile workers and artisans who protested against the introduction of new labor-saving machinery, which they believed threatened their jobs and livelihoods, often by destroying machines.
Example:
The Luddites famously smashed power looms in factories, protesting the technological unemployment and exploitation they faced, leading to harsh government repression.
Malthus' Theory of Population
A theory proposed by Thomas Malthus stating that population tends to grow exponentially while food production grows arithmetically, leading to potential resource scarcity and famine.
Example:
The 'Hungry 40s' and the Irish Potato Famine were seen by some as grim confirmations of Malthus' Theory of Population, as food supply struggled to keep pace with population growth.
Potato Famine
A period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1852, caused by a blight that destroyed potato crops, which were the staple food for much of the population.
Example:
The Irish Potato Famine devastated Ireland, leading to millions of deaths and mass emigration, and serving as a stark example of the agrarian consequences of the era.
Power Loom
A mechanized loom invented by Edmund Cartwright, which significantly sped up the weaving process of textiles.
Example:
The introduction of the Power Loom revolutionized textile production, making it much faster and cheaper than traditional hand weaving, but also displacing many skilled weavers.
Serfdom
A system of forced labor and social hierarchy where peasants (serfs) were tied to the land they worked and were subject to the will of their landlord.
Example:
The persistence of serfdom in Eastern European countries like Russia and Italy hindered their industrialization, as labor was tied to agriculture rather than being free to move to factories.
Spinning Jenny
A multi-spindle spinning frame invented by James Hargreaves, which allowed a worker to spin multiple spools of yarn simultaneously.
Example:
The Spinning Jenny dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton spinning, providing more yarn for the new power looms and boosting textile output.
Steam Engine
A heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid, becoming a primary power source for factories and transportation during the Industrial Revolution.
Example:
The improved Steam Engine by James Watt became the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, powering factories, locomotives, and steamboats, transforming industry and transport.
The Wealth of Nations
A seminal work by Adam Smith, published in 1776, which outlines the principles of classical economics, advocating for free markets and limited government intervention.
Example:
The Wealth of Nations provided the theoretical framework for the capitalist system that allowed private investors to fund new technologies and industries during the Industrial Revolution.
Urbanization
The process by which populations shift from rural areas to cities, leading to the growth of urban centers.
Example:
The promise of factory work, despite harsh conditions, fueled rapid urbanization as people migrated en masse to industrial cities like Manchester and London.