The Industrial RevolutionIntroduction to the RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution was a period of drastic change marked by the general introduction of engine-powered machinery. This change generally helped life, but it also had some disadvantages. Pollution, such as carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, has increased, working conditions have decreased, and the number of working women and children has increased. Government, arts, literature, music, architecture, and the way man views life changed during this period. Two revolutions took place. The first industrial revolution was based on the cotton industry. Most of the inventions made in that period were mainly related to the manufacturing and production of cotton. John Kay, an English weaver, invented the flying shuttle, a product that could cut cotton twice as fast. When other inventors saw what Kay had accomplished, they wanted to do the same. One problem still remained. The yarn was not fed fast enough through the weaver, but in 1769 two new inventions solved the problem. The spinning jenny and the water-powered loom, both fed the yarn through the flying shuttle faster. Cleaning cotton was a tedious and time-consuming job, so in 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. The gin cleaned cotton up to 50 times faster than a human could. The Steam Engine The first steam engine was patented in 1769. Invented by James Watt, this steam engine was a combination of previously made engines. Watt's first major development was a separate cylinder for steam output. Another special feature of Watt's steam engine was that it used atmospheric pressure instead of steam pressure. The assembly line The assembly line, often attributed to Henry Ford, was a brilliant idea, which allowed items to be produced more cheaply and more quickly. evaluate. The principle behind the assembly line was that a worker stood in one place, a belt carried the parts or goods to the worker, and he or she simply performed a task such as inserting a bolt or assembling a part. Then, the object was carried via the belt to the next worker, who performed the next task. The assembly line worked, and in fact made things like cars, previously too expensive for the average family, affordable. The English economy before the revolution Before the first i...... middle of paper...... Life Changed During the Industrial Revolution Life changed dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. People lived in germ-infested, crowded and very unhealthy conditions, just like the places where they work. Women and children worked in very harsh conditions for almost entire days and received only a small wage. The British Parliament intervened and restricted child labor. This sparked a riot. People, especially rich capitalists, wanted the government to stay out of their problems, called the laissez-faire system5. Many people opposed the laissez-faire system, arguing that capitalists would gain too much power and people would be mistreated. The laissez-faire system was ignored after a few years. Conclusion In conclusion, all the above information shows that the industrial revolution has changed today's jobs. During the Industrial Revolution, inventions such as the cotton gin and the steam engine were made. The Industrial Revolution brought more technology, wealth and power, but with what consequences? People lived in dirt, worked.