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The first reliable steam engine
The first reliable steam engine was invented in 1775 by James Watt. -
Adam Smith
Adam Smith's book, The Wealth of Nations defended the idea of a free economy and free markets. His ideas were central to the developement of Capitalism. -
Capitalism
Laissez-Faire, meaning "let them do as they please" is associated with capitalism. Adam Smith, the founder of capitalism, defended idea of a free economy, or free markerts. He did this in his book The Wealth of Nations in 1776. Economists Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo also supported Smith's ideas. -
Jeremy Bentham
In 1789, Jeremy Bentham wrote The Introduction to the Principles of Moral and Legislation. His works focused on the basis of peoples' utility or usefulness. Bentham introduced the idea of utilitarianism. He argued that the government should promote the greatest good the for the most people. -
The Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented in the year 1793 by Eli Whitney. He also invented parts for muskets in 1798. -
John Stuart Mill
John Staurt Mill was a philosopher and economist. In the 1800s he led the utiliatarian movement. -
Regular Steamboat travel on the Hundson River
Robert Fulton developed a steamboat that ferried passengers up and down New York's Hudson River in 1807, called the Clermont. -
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was shocked by the lives and living of the working class and their poverty. Owen was a British factory owner who worked to improve working conditions for his workers. In 1824 he traveled to the United States and formed a utopia in New Harmony, Indiana. Utopia means a perfect living place. -
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a member of parliament who fought for the end of the slave trade in the British Empire. In 1833, Britain finally ended slavery in its empire. -
Abolition of Slavery
The Slavery Abolition Act was passed by parliament in 1833. This Act gave freedom to all slaves in the British Empire. William Wilberforce was highly active in this movement. He and others formed a anti-slavery society in 1823. -
The Telegraph
The telegraph was invented by Samuel F.B. Morse in 1836. -
Karl Marx
German journalist Karl Marx introduced the world to a very radical type of socialism, known as Marxism. He and his partner Friedrich Engels wrote and published the Communist Manifesto in the year 1848. -
Communism
Karl Marx introduced a radical form of socialism to the world called Marxism. Marx later described Communsim as a form of complete socialism in which all the means of production are owned by the people. Marx published the Communist Manifesto in 1848, with the help of Friedrich Engels. They arugued that human societies were always divided into social classes. -
Women
Women during the Industrial Revolution faced different demands than today. Many women were forced to work in difficult areas such as mills and mines. Families began to depend greatly on the wages of women during this time, along with children. The Factory Act of 1850 increased labor hours for women and children to 10 and a half hours a day. -
The U.S.
After traveling from Britain and throughout Europe the Industrial Revolution focused in on the U.S. Textile Industries boomes during this period along with steam, which allowed American to expand and travel. The Industrial revolution changed American into a urban-industrial area. -
Unionization
Voluntary associations called unions spoke for all workers in a particular trade. The engaged in collective bargaining in order to get better work and higher pay. If demands weren't accepted by the employers, then the union members would go on strike. In 1886 The American Federation of Labor won their members higher wages and shorter hours. -
The Wright Brothers
Orville and Wilbur Wright invented the first airplane in 1903. -
The Model T Ford
Henry Ford invented the Model T, which was the first mass produced car in 1908. -
Socialism
Socialism is a reform that focuses on the distribution of wealth is key to have social and economic freedom, cooperation, and equality. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels pracitced a very radical form of socialism.
