The Industrial Revolution

  • The First Steam Engine is Invented

    The First Steam Engine is Invented
    The first practical steam engine is invented by Thomas Newcomen. Steam would later become an important source of power for the Industrial Revolution.
  • First Industrial Revolution Begins in Great Britain

    First Industrial Revolution Begins in Great Britain
    As the demands for goods increased, merchants needed a more cost-efficient way of production. Because of this, manufacturing moves from hand production to machine production in Great Britain.
  • Period: to

    The First Industrial Revolution

  • The Spinning Jenny

    The Spinning Jenny
    The spinning jenny is invented by James Hargreaves. This allows workers to produce multiple spools of thread at a time.
  • The Steam Engine is Improved

    The Steam Engine is Improved
    James Watt patents an improved steam engine. This made it useful for factories and other power sources such as steam boats and trains.
  • The Industrial Revolution Spreads to the United States

    The Industrial Revolution Spreads to the United States
    Samuel Slater opens the first textile mill in Rhode Island. It was one of the first factories in the United States.
  • First Successful Steamboat Operation

    First Successful Steamboat Operation
    Robert Fulton starts the first successful steamboat operation. This was using the boat called the Clermont.
  • Erie Canal

    Erie Canal
    The Erie Canal is completed. This opens up a waterway from the Great Lakes to New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • The Steel Plow is Invented

    The Steel Plow is Invented
    A blacksmith named John Deere invents the steel plow. This allowed farmers to cultivate crops more efficientially.