Bob Allen: Why Britain industrialised when others did not [No longer in use]

Summary

Professor Bob Allen discusses the Industrial Revolution's onset in 18th-century England, highlighting the significance of Hargreaves' spinning jenny. He explains that the rise in women's wages due to the textile industry's expansion made labor-saving machinery profitable. This economic shift, driven by Britain's commercial empire, led to the adoption of capital-intensive technologies, distinguishing Britain from other countries with lower returns on such investments.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 18th century and is considered one of the greatest technological revolutions.
• 📈 The revolution started with simple machines like Hargreaves' spinning jenny, which was an innovation in practical engineering rather than a leap in creative ideas.
• 👩‍🏭 The increase in women's earnings in the textile industry, from 35% of men's earnings in the 16th and early 17th centuries to 70% by the 18th century, made labor-intensive technologies more profitable.
• 📊 The profitability of the spinning jenny was significantly higher in the 18th century due to the rise in labor costs, which was a result of the textile industry's expansion.
• 📈 The return on investment for spinning jennies increased from 2-3% in the 17th century to 30-40% in the 18th century, making them an attractive investment.
• 🌍 Britain's commercial empire and economic expansion due to successful imperialism created a high-wage economy, which was conducive to the adoption of labor-saving machinery.
• 💡 The invention and adoption of machinery like the spinning jenny were driven by economic incentives rather than purely technological advancements.
• 🏭 The Industrial Revolution did not start with large factories but evolved from simpler, more practical machinery that improved efficiency in the textile industry.
• 💼 The economic conditions in 18th century Britain, characterized by high wages and a growing commercial empire, provided the right environment for the Industrial Revolution to take hold.
• 🌐 The Industrial Revolution was unique to Britain at the time, as other countries did not have the same economic conditions that made labor-saving machinery profitable.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Bob Allen's discussion?

The main topic of Bob Allen's discussion is the Industrial Revolution, specifically why it happened in England in the 18th century.

What was the first machine invented to spin cotton fibers?

The first machine invented to spin cotton fibers was Hargreaves' spinning jenny, which was quite simple and consisted of one wheel and a row of vertical spindles.

How did the spinning jenny work?

The spinning jenny worked by a woman spinning the wheel on the left, which was connected to all the spindles. She used a wooden clamp device in her left hand to pull the yarn away from the spindles.

What was the significance of the spinning jenny in the context of the Industrial Revolution?

The spinning jenny was significant because it represented the shift towards practical engineering and capital-intensive technology, marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Why did Hargreaves invest time and money into developing the spinning jenny?

Hargreaves invested in the spinning jenny because it became profitable in the 1760s due to the increased demand for textiles and the rise in women's wages in the spinning industry.

How did the textile industry's expansion impact the profitability of the spinning jenny?

The expansion of the textile industry due to Britain's growing commercial empire increased labor costs, making it more profitable to use the labor-saving spinning jenny.

What was the return on investment for the spinning jenny in the 17th century?

In the 17th century, the return on investment for the spinning jenny was low, at around 2 or 3 percent, which was not enough to encourage significant investment.

How did the return on investment for the spinning jenny change in the 18th century?

In the 18th century, the return on investment for the spinning jenny increased to 30, 35, or 40 percent, making it a profitable venture due to the rise in labor costs.

Why did the Industrial Revolution not happen in other countries at the same time?

The Industrial Revolution did not happen in other countries at the same time because they were not high-wage economies like Britain, which was a result of its successful imperialism and economic expansion.

What was the economic impact of Britain's commercial empire on the Industrial Revolution?

Britain's commercial empire led to an economic expansion that increased demand for textiles, which in turn made the use of machinery like the spinning jenny profitable, thus driving the Industrial Revolution.

How did the rise in women's wages contribute to the Industrial Revolution?

The rise in women's wages in the textile industry made it more cost-effective to invest in labor-saving machinery like the spinning jenny, contributing to the onset of the Industrial Revolution.