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Jethro Tull Invents the Seed Drill
In 1701 Jethro Tull invented the seed drill. The seed drill allowed farmers to sow seeds in well-spaced rows at specific depths. This boosted crop yields, and less seeds were wasted. -
John Kay Invents the Flying Shuttle
In 1733 John Kay invented the flying shuttle. The flying shuttle was used to quickly carry threads of yarn back and fourth when the weaver pulled a handle. This new invention increased the productivity of weavers. -
John Watt Builds First Steam Engine
In 1765, James Watt built a steam engine that worked faster and burned less fuel. He later teamed up with entrepreneur ,Mathew Boulton, who paid Watt to build better engines. -
Marx and Engels Publish the Communist Manifestos
The Communist Manifestos was a 23 page pamphlet that outlined the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles. Marx and Engles believed that the wealthy controlled the means of producing goods while the poor did backbreaking work in bad conditions. They came up with a politcal theory where everyone is equal and all property is publicly owned. -
US Civil War ends; US experiences technological boom
In 1865, after the civil war, the United States experienced a technology boom. One of the main causes of this was the wealth of natural resources such as oil, coal, and iron. Another cause was the burst of inventions such as the electric light bulb and telephone. Another cause was the increase of urban population that consumed the manufactured goods. The railroads also proved to be a profitavble buisiness. Many entreprenuers sold stocks of their company to raise money. -
Germany Becomes Dominant Industrial Power in Europe
Industrialization appeared in several parts of Germany such as the coal-rich Ruhr Valley. Germany imported British equipment and engineers and built railroads that linked to manufacturing cities. -
British Unions Win Right to Strike
The British government saw the unions as a threat to order and stability, and the Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800 outlawed unions and strikes. By 1875, British Unions had won the right to strike and picket peacefully. The Unions often went on strike for shorter hours and higher wages.
