Why did the industrial revolution begin in Europe?

Essay by keishabbwnjCollege, UndergraduateA, March 2008

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A number of factors united together in England to bring about the initial Industrial Revolution. One of those being the agricultural revolution of the 18th century. Changes in the methods of farming and stock breeding led to an increase in food production. The British could now feed more people for less money. Now you didn't have to spend all of your wages on food. The growing population provided a surplus of workers for the new factories.

England had the capital to invest in the new machines and factories. This capital was from trade profits and the cottage industry. England had a banking system with credit facilities. There were a number of people interested in making profits. They were fascinated with wealth.

England had an abundance of cotton, used in the making of textiles. When the cottage industry and the manufacturing of clothing at home changed to the factory system, new machines were being created.

Also, several -inventors of these machines were from Great Britain and contributed to the factory system being established. Efficient transportation was already set up in Britain and it was further innovated with the demand between producers and suppliers.

The Industrial Revolution also began in England because of their large demand for coal and iron. And since they had a large supply of this, England soon began to have to produce vast amounts across all of Europe. England was one of the world's leading producers of iron and coal and was considered as having the most colonial power. This is all due to their newly acquired colonies.

England had a stable and flexible government. Because of the enclosure acts, and the recent inventions in the textile industry, it became much more likely that working class citizens may achieve middle class status. The fact that England had...