To what extent can it be claimed that England underwent an industrial revolution in the years 1750 - 1850?

TO WHAT EXTENT CAN IT BE CLAIMED THAT ENGLAND UNDERWENT AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN THE YEARS 1750 - 1850

The Industrial Revolution was neither sudden nor swift. It was a long, slow process in which production from hand tools to machines and in which new sources of power such as steam and electricity replaced human and animal power. The Industrial Revolution did not only convert the patterns of work in nations, but completely transformed the way of life.

In the years preceding 1750, England, although a wealthy nation still suffered from poverty and a poor economy. Despite the fact that there were manufacturers, not enough produce could be made, and so England needed an industrial revolution. The two main areas of productivity were agriculture and woolen textiles, the larger earner of these two being wool. The manufacture of woolen cloth had been the main industry since the middle ages, when England was one of the world's greatest producers of raw wool.

Arkwright's mill at Cromford

A Spinning Jenny, spinning machine which was signi...

Richard Arkwright portrait

However the garments were made in the people's homes and the progress was very slow this was known as the domestic outworking system. All the tools were worked by hand and were small enough to be used in the home. Not only was this process slow, but also such was the demand for yarn that it was constantly in short supply. Wool production was hard to mechanise, however cotton which was a new material being brought into Britain, was much easier to make and faster. Not only was it easier and faster, it was also more comfortable to wear. This new material may have been easier to mechanise but the raw materials had to be imported and this was more expensive, but still the demand was there, this is because cotton was so much lighter and a lot more...