#english_history 

## Reasons
Several influences came together at the same time to revolutionise Britain's industry: **money**, **labour**, a **greater demand for goods**, **new power**, and **better transport**.

Increased food production made it possible to feed large populations in the new towns, which were made up of the people who had lost their land through [[Society in the 18th century#^089570|enclosures]] and were looking for work. They now needed to buy food, clothes, etc. This created an opportunity *to make and sell more goods than ever before*.

By the early 18th century simple machines had already been invented for basic jobs, introducing the ideas of [[Mass production|mass production]] and [[Division of labour|division of labour]].

Soon the only problem impeding industrial growth was fuel, as there was less wood. But at this the use of coal was perfected, and this made Britain the leading iron producer in Europe. This made it possible to manufacter new machinery for other industries.

## The Revolution
No one saw the potential of ironworks more clearly than **John Wilkinson**, a man with a total belief in iron: built the largest ironworks in the country, built the world's first iron bridge over the River Severn in **1779**, made the first iron boats, even buried in an iron coffin.
When James Watt made a greatly improved steam engine in **1769**, Wilkinson improved it further. In 1781 Watt produced an engine with a turning motion, made of iron and steel. People were now not dependent on natural power.
These inventions slowly snowballed into even more inventions.

In the Midlands, factories using locally found clay began to develop and produce china goods, like cups and plates. The most famous factory was the one started by **Josiah Wedgwood**.

The cost of such goods was made cheaper than ever by improved transport during the 18th century.

## Social effects
The social effects of the industrial revolution were enormous: workers tried to join together to protect themselves against powerful employers, riots occured, led by the unemployed who had been replaced in factories by machines. In 1799 these **Luddites** started to break up the machinery, but then the government made the breaking of it punishable by death.