The Industrial Revolution. Ready for Take Off

Why Did England Industrialise Before Anyone Else?

Seminar Paper , 2011 , 16 Pages , Grade: 2

English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

Without doubt, the Industrial Revolution is one of the most important events in human his-tory. For better or worse, it changed lives throughout England and soon afterwards contin-ued to do so also in Europe and the rest of the world. But already here lies one of the mys-teries of the Industrial Revolution. Why did it start in England (or at least, in parts of Eng-land)? What was so special about this island off the European continent’s cost that made it possible for it to develop in the eighteenth and nineteenth century so much faster than any of its competitors (at least out of a technological point of view)? For there certainly were competitors – other countries like France or the Netherlands but also outside Europe, like China or Japan – that were in a similar position, but somehow failed to industrialise before England did. The aim of this paper is to look for an answer to this seemingly simple question.

Table of Contents Page

I | Introduction

II | Key Characteristics of the Industrial Revolution

III | Causes of the Industrial Revolution in England
Capital Accumulation
The Population’s Increasing Demand
Technical Innovation
Changing Worldview

IV | England’s Favourable Starting Position
The Need for a Revolution
Comparison England / France

V | Results of the Industrial Revolution in England
Economic Changes
Technical Breakthroughs
Sociological Changes
Working Conditions
Urbanisation
North-South Divide

VI | Conclusion

VII | Bibliography

• College: University of Innsbruck (Anglistik)
• Course: British Culture
• Grade: 2
• Author: T. Schlipfinger (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V193960
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656189930
• ISBN (Book): 9783656190783
• Language: English
• Tags: Industrial Industrielle Revolution England Britannien Britain, industrial, industrielle, revolution, england, britannien, britain