Question
ace of the Industrial Revolution was the British Isles. Its inventors, tinkerers, and
mechanics created steam engines, railroads, and a growing iron industry. It would take several years
before the Revolution and its trends toward factories, steam power, and railroads spread effectively to
the continental states of Europe. Little progress occurred prior to 1830 toward the industrializing of the
Continent. Throughout the 1700s, industry in France and the Germany was centered in limited regions
that produced important raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and other products. Saxony, French
Flanders, and Normandy were known as important regions for wool production. Cotton was imported
into Normandy, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, where it was turned into cloth and clothing through
the putting-out system centered in private homes. Parts of Belgium, such as Wallonia, and Silesia in
Germany produced iron. But such production was always limited and never led to the birth of an
industrial revolution as in Britain.
Even when great changes began to take place in
Britain, the continental powers could not immediately
follow suit. For one, while Britain’s transportation
system was extensive and developed, it was not so in
other countries, including France and Germany. France
had few good ports and its rivers were not suited for
extensive river traffic. Germany was divided into
hundreds of smaller states which rarely cooperated with
one another.
But the primary reason for the Continent’s slowness to join in industrializing was their general lack
of raw materials. Coal, iron, even wood were scarce on the Continent. Britain, on the other hand, had
great reservoirs of both coal and iron. The Continent’s lack of coal deposits was especially hampering,
since coal provided cheap fuel. In addition, many of the middle-class businessmen, traders, and shippers
on the Continent appear to have been satisfied with modest investments and business ventures. They
were not driven to produce greater numbers of consumer goods as was Britain. Financing was also a
problem in Europe. While British investors, bankers, and other lending groups were in abundance on the
Isles, in Europe, there was little lending capital available for “risky” projects such as factories, railroads,
or textile mills. There was a timidity in Europe while the British were busy expanding, developing,
building, producing, and investing. Two-thirds of the wealth of most continental states rested in the
agricultural land, as well as nearly 80 percent of the people.
All this is not to imply that industrialization did not occur in Europe after 1815 (the end of the
Napoleonic Wars). Population increases, which doubled the numbers of people in most European
countries between 1800 and 1850, increased the need for more consumer goods and the means to
produce them at home. Transportation systems were improved. Great road building projects flourished
across Europe. Austria oversaw 30,000 miles of new road construction between 1830 and 1847. France
built many new inland roads, plus 2000 miles of canals. Railroads were being built by 1830 in Belgium,
with Germany, Russia, and France following close behind. By 1850, France had constructed 2000 miles
of rail and Germany had built 4000. Early continental factories included several textile mills. These
early efforts required hiring British experts and technicians to establish the structures, build and
maintain the steam engines, and get the system up and running. Even steam power was slow to catch on
in Europe. As late as 1830, France had only 600 steam engines. One important industry that developed
on the Continent was the production of iron pipe, increasingly in demand for urban water and gas lines.
The Industrial Revolution Spreads
1. Which countries specialized in wool, cotton and iron?
2. Give four reasons why the Continent was slow to join the Industrial
Revolution?
3. Explain how each country improved their transportation.
mechanics created steam engines, railroads, and a growing iron industry. It would take several years
before the Revolution and its trends toward factories, steam power, and railroads spread effectively to
the continental states of Europe. Little progress occurred prior to 1830 toward the industrializing of the
Continent. Throughout the 1700s, industry in France and the Germany was centered in limited regions
that produced important raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and other products. Saxony, French
Flanders, and Normandy were known as important regions for wool production. Cotton was imported
into Normandy, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, where it was turned into cloth and clothing through
the putting-out system centered in private homes. Parts of Belgium, such as Wallonia, and Silesia in
Germany produced iron. But such production was always limited and never led to the birth of an
industrial revolution as in Britain.
Even when great changes began to take place in
Britain, the continental powers could not immediately
follow suit. For one, while Britain’s transportation
system was extensive and developed, it was not so in
other countries, including France and Germany. France
had few good ports and its rivers were not suited for
extensive river traffic. Germany was divided into
hundreds of smaller states which rarely cooperated with
one another.
But the primary reason for the Continent’s slowness to join in industrializing was their general lack
of raw materials. Coal, iron, even wood were scarce on the Continent. Britain, on the other hand, had
great reservoirs of both coal and iron. The Continent’s lack of coal deposits was especially hampering,
since coal provided cheap fuel. In addition, many of the middle-class businessmen, traders, and shippers
on the Continent appear to have been satisfied with modest investments and business ventures. They
were not driven to produce greater numbers of consumer goods as was Britain. Financing was also a
problem in Europe. While British investors, bankers, and other lending groups were in abundance on the
Isles, in Europe, there was little lending capital available for “risky” projects such as factories, railroads,
or textile mills. There was a timidity in Europe while the British were busy expanding, developing,
building, producing, and investing. Two-thirds of the wealth of most continental states rested in the
agricultural land, as well as nearly 80 percent of the people.
All this is not to imply that industrialization did not occur in Europe after 1815 (the end of the
Napoleonic Wars). Population increases, which doubled the numbers of people in most European
countries between 1800 and 1850, increased the need for more consumer goods and the means to
produce them at home. Transportation systems were improved. Great road building projects flourished
across Europe. Austria oversaw 30,000 miles of new road construction between 1830 and 1847. France
built many new inland roads, plus 2000 miles of canals. Railroads were being built by 1830 in Belgium,
with Germany, Russia, and France following close behind. By 1850, France had constructed 2000 miles
of rail and Germany had built 4000. Early continental factories included several textile mills. These
early efforts required hiring British experts and technicians to establish the structures, build and
maintain the steam engines, and get the system up and running. Even steam power was slow to catch on
in Europe. As late as 1830, France had only 600 steam engines. One important industry that developed
on the Continent was the production of iron pipe, increasingly in demand for urban water and gas lines.
The Industrial Revolution Spreads
1. Which countries specialized in wool, cotton and iron?
2. Give four reasons why the Continent was slow to join the Industrial
Revolution?
3. Explain how each country improved their transportation.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### 1. Countries Specialized in Wool, Cotton, and Iron
- **Wool Production:** Saxony, French Flanders, and Normandy were known for their wool production.
- **Cotton Production:** Cotton was imported into Normandy, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, where it was turned into cloth and clothing through the putting-out system.
- **Iron Production:** Parts of Belgium, such as Wallonia, and Silesia in Germany were involved in iron production.
### 2. Four Reasons Why the Continent Was Slow to Join the Industrial Revolution
1. **Limited Transportation Systems:** Unlike Britain, which had a well-developed transportation network, the Continent lacked extensive and efficient transportation systems. France had few good ports, and its rivers were not suitable for extensive river traffic. Germany was fragmented into numerous smaller states that rarely cooperated, hindering the development of a cohesive transport network.
2. **Lack of Raw Materials:** The Continent suffered from a scarcity of essential raw materials such as coal and iron. In contrast, Britain had abundant reserves of both, with coal being a vital source of cheap fuel necessary for industrial processes.
3. **Timidity of Middle-Class Investors:** Many middle-class businessmen, traders, and shippers in continental Europe were content with modest investments and business ventures, lacking the ambition to scale production of consumer goods as was occurring in Britain.
4. **Scarcity of Financing:** There was a shortage of lending capital in Europe for "risky" investment projects like factories, railroads, or textile mills. In contrast, British financiers were more willing to invest in and support these ventures, which contributed to a robust industrial climate in Britain.
### 3. How Each Country Improved Their Transportation
- **Austria:** Oversaw the construction of 30,000 miles of new roads between 1830 and 1847.
- **France:** Built many new inland roads and constructed 2000 miles of canals to enhance transportation capabilities.
- **Belgium:** Began building railroads by 1830, which facilitated movement of goods and people across the country.
- **Germany and Russia:** Followed Belgium's lead in developing their railroad systems, additionally contributing to improved transportation across the continent.
By 1850, France had built 2000 miles of railroads, and Germany had constructed 4000 miles, indicating significant progress in their transportation networks.
- **Wool Production:** Saxony, French Flanders, and Normandy were known for their wool production.
- **Cotton Production:** Cotton was imported into Normandy, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, where it was turned into cloth and clothing through the putting-out system.
- **Iron Production:** Parts of Belgium, such as Wallonia, and Silesia in Germany were involved in iron production.
### 2. Four Reasons Why the Continent Was Slow to Join the Industrial Revolution
1. **Limited Transportation Systems:** Unlike Britain, which had a well-developed transportation network, the Continent lacked extensive and efficient transportation systems. France had few good ports, and its rivers were not suitable for extensive river traffic. Germany was fragmented into numerous smaller states that rarely cooperated, hindering the development of a cohesive transport network.
2. **Lack of Raw Materials:** The Continent suffered from a scarcity of essential raw materials such as coal and iron. In contrast, Britain had abundant reserves of both, with coal being a vital source of cheap fuel necessary for industrial processes.
3. **Timidity of Middle-Class Investors:** Many middle-class businessmen, traders, and shippers in continental Europe were content with modest investments and business ventures, lacking the ambition to scale production of consumer goods as was occurring in Britain.
4. **Scarcity of Financing:** There was a shortage of lending capital in Europe for "risky" investment projects like factories, railroads, or textile mills. In contrast, British financiers were more willing to invest in and support these ventures, which contributed to a robust industrial climate in Britain.
### 3. How Each Country Improved Their Transportation
- **Austria:** Oversaw the construction of 30,000 miles of new roads between 1830 and 1847.
- **France:** Built many new inland roads and constructed 2000 miles of canals to enhance transportation capabilities.
- **Belgium:** Began building railroads by 1830, which facilitated movement of goods and people across the country.
- **Germany and Russia:** Followed Belgium's lead in developing their railroad systems, additionally contributing to improved transportation across the continent.
By 1850, France had built 2000 miles of railroads, and Germany had constructed 4000 miles, indicating significant progress in their transportation networks.