The North and South Times
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Did You Know?
Interesting Facts About The Industrial Revolution
Written by Gene Lee
Hello readers! This is the North And South Times! Your best source of interesting information! This week, our topic is the Industrial Revolution! First up, did you know that the Industrial Revolution began in England and gradually expanded to the rest of Europe and America? Also, here's an interesting tidbit. To protect the growing textile industry in Britain, the government made it illegal for skilled mechanics and plans to leave the country. Still, Samuel Slater managed to sneak out and advance the lagging American textile industry. Okay, moving on to other info about the Industrial Revolution!
Did you know that the sewing machine and the steel plow where invented in the Industrial Revolution? However, the major inventions where the steam boat and textile mills. Another important innovation in manufacturing was mass production and interchangeable parts. Both first introduced by Eli Whitney, they sped up the manufacturing process, and still do today.
Whitney also invented the cotton gin - a machine that made sorting the cotton from the seeds much easier. Unfortunately, the cotton gin also revived the slave market in the South. Here's another intriguing fact about the Industrial Revolution in America. America's manufacturing business back then was slow until the War of 1812.
Here's one last treat for all you fact junkies out there. The spinning jenny, invented by James Hargreaves, was named after his daughter, Jenny. Alright that's it for this week! Check back in next Sunday for another "Did You Know?" article!