The Industrial Revolution was a period between the 18th and 19th centuries that marked the industrialization and urbanization of Europe and America. Before the Industrial Revolution, most manufacturing was done at home and people used very basic hand tools and machines. The Industrial Revolution ushered in a new era of specialized automatic machines and mass production. Many important advancements, such as those in transportation and the invention of the steam engine, led to many future technological inventions, making the Industrial Revolution an important mark in history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Before the Industrial Revolution, most people lived on rural farms, producing their own food, clothing, etc., incomes were low, and disease was widespread. common making life very difficult for the ordinary person. Britain's ability to become the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution rested on a number of factors. It had many natural resources, especially iron and coal. Britain was also politically stable and had many colonies from which it could receive resources and sell its goods. The textile industry was completely transformed by the industrial revolution. Previously, textiles were made at home, but in the 1700s many innovations led to increased production while requiring less human effort. James Hargreaves invented the 'spinning jenny' around 1764, this machine allowed multiple spools of thread to be produced simultaneously, and by the time Hargreaves died in 1778, over 20,000 spinning jennys were in use across Britain. British inventor Samuel Crompton improved the design of the spinning jenny with his spinning mule and eventually other machines. The great progress of the steel industry was also very important during the industrial revolution. Abraham Darby discovered a simpler and more profitable way to produce cast iron. Henry Bessemer also invented the first inexpensive way to mass produce steel in 1850. Iron and steel were essential materials for building machines, tools, buildings, ships and just about everything for the industrial revolution. Significant progress was also made in transportation during the Industrial Revolution. Before, goods were transported by horses and wagons or by boats across canals and rivers. In the early 1800s, an American, Robert Fulton, built the first commercially successful steamboat. In the 19th century, steamships transported goods across the Atlantic. At the same time, steam locomotives also began to be used. British engineer Richard Trevithick invented the first steam locomotive. In 1830, England's Liverpool and Manchester Railway became the first to offer regular, scheduled passenger services. By 1850, Britain had more than 6,00 miles of railways. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay With new inventions, people's quality of life has generally been improved. . However, the poor still face many problems: wages are extremely low and working conditions..