The Industrial Revolution is considered one of the most important steps in creating the modern world as we know it today. It marked the transition from societies based on agriculture towards a manufacturing economy that led to improved efficiency and large-scale production. Continue reading to learn some facts about the Industrial Revolution that you probably didn’t know about.
People Tried to Smuggle Machines Out of Britain
The Industrial Revolution started in 1760 in Britain, and the rest of the world quickly took notice. People from all around flocked to the country to try and learn more about the machines that were built there. Some of them didn’t want to go through the trouble of replicating them and instead opted to steal the machines and try to smuggle them out of Britain.
It Caused a Massive Migration to Cities
The Industrial Revolution caused a lot of farmers and people living in rural areas to flock to cities and towns in search of a job and new opportunities. For example, only 15% of Britons lived in cities at the very start of the industrial revolution, but that number rose to more than 80% by the start of the 20th century.
There Was a Strong Opposition to Industrialization
Not everyone was eager to enter the age of industrialization. In Britain, a movement called Luddites was formed by textile workers who feared that their jobs and livelihoods were threatened by the machines. They tried to put an end to the industrial revolution by destroying factories and machines before the movement was suppressed using legal and military force.
Child Labor Was Common
Faced with a lack of workers, factories didn’t hesitate to employ children. This was especially the case in the textile industry, where one in five workers was below the age of 15 at the peak of the Industrial Revolution.