-
Jethro Tull invents the seed drill
In 1701, Jethro Tull invented the seed drill, which was an invention that allowed seeds to be planted at in rows at a specific depth. Before that, seeds were just scattered over the land. Tull saw that this wasted space and seeds and this inspired him to make this invention. -
John Kay invents flying shuttle
In 1733, John Kay invented the flying shuttle. The flying shuttle was an invention that helped modernize and advance the textile industry. This device almost doubled the productivity and output of workers, and it was a vital part of the industrialization of that industry. -
James Watt builds the first steam engine
James Watt, a mathematical instrument maker, built the first steam engine in 1765. The earlier version used too much coal and was too expensive. This inspired Watt to find a way to make the engine work faster and more efficiently, while using less fuel. -
Marx and Engels publish The Communist Manifesto
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels introduced an extreme version of socialism called Marxism, or communism, in their panphlet called The Communist Manifesto. They argued that there always two groups of people in all socieites, the haves (bourgeosie) and the have-nots (proletariat). They also encouraged the proletariat the revolt against their oppressors. -
US Civil War ends; US experiences technological boom
In the final third of the 19th century, the United States experienced a technological boom. Industrialization spread rapidly and many new ideas were being brought to the country. Some contributing factors of the boom included lots of natural resources, many new inventions, and a rapidly increasing urban population. -
Germany becomes dominant industrial power in Europe
Although Germany did not have countrywide industrialization at first, parts of the region thrived like the Ruhr Valley in west central Germany. Like other industrial powers, Germany had a wealth of natural resources like coal and iron ore. Germany also built railroads that connected the area, and not later Germany became an industrial giant. -
British Unions win right to strike
While the Industrialiation brought great new inventions and ideas, it also brought many hardships and poverty for people. Workers would work for long hours in awful conditions with little pay and they were often brutally injured. Workers in England wanted rights, and if they were denied those rights, they wanted to form unions and go on strike. This was outlawed for many years, but eventually in 1875 they were given to rights to strike peacefully.
