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Developments in Transport in The Industrial Revolution.

Transportation advancements during the Industrial Revolution reshaped societies, economies, and technologies in profound ways. Spearheaded by innovations in canals, railways, steam engines, and road networks, these developments revolutionized the movement of goods and people, facilitating industrial growth and urbanization.

What were the key innovations in transportation infrastructure during the Industrial Revolution, and how did they facilitate the movement of goods and people?

(Figure1) The opening of the bridgewater canal, allowing merchants to cross River Irwell, saving time and money.

(Figure 2) (1825) Centenary celebrations of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway

During the Industrial Revolution the British canal system completely transformed how goods were transported by offering an effective way to move large items across long distances. The completion of the Bridgewater Canal, in 1761 led to a drop in coal prices in Manchester making water transport more direct and cost effective compared to land routes. (refer to figure 1 and Appendix 1).Canals played a role in transporting materials like coal, iron and timber to factories while also efficiently distributing finished goods to markets.

The introduction of railways brought about another revolution in transportation with George Stephenson's steam locomotive and the establishment of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in 1825 (refer to figure 2). The rapid growth of railway networks reduced travel times and expenses making product distribution more streamlined and attracting labourers to railway hubs.The utilisation of steam engines. Steamships revolutionised transportation during the Industrial Revolution. George Stephenson's steam locomotive, introduced in the century, enabled faster land travel (refer to figure 3). By the mid 19th century steam powered transport systems greatly minimised travel times and costs through improved speed and capacity

(Figure 3) George Stephenson's steam locomotive seen in action, transporting people efficiently and effectively,

How did the development of canals and waterways influence industrial growth and the distribution of resources?

(Figure 4) The Ellesmere Canal (1845) transporting raw materials like Coal and Iron

Canals and waterways played a role in the Industrial Revolution by supporting expansion and facilitating the distribution of resources. The construction of the Bridgewater Canal in the century was a significant milestone leading to a 50% reduction in coal prices in Manchester dropping from 7 shillings to 3.5 shillings per ton (refer to figure 5). This cost saving was made thanks to the canal's transportation of coal from the Duke of Bridgewater's mines in Worsley directly to Manchester bypassing less effective overland routes and navigations that were previously used. Similarly the Trent and Mersey Canal (1777) connected the Potteries with ports enhancing the ceramics industry by offering a cost efficient transport route.

The benefits of canals were further demonstrated by projects like the Ellesmere Canal. As noted by Thomas Telford (Refer Appendix 2a and 2b) this canal reduced transportation costs for coal and iron resources for operations leading to improved efficiency and profitability. As a result it promoted growth in surrounding areas by enhancing accessibility and reducing barriers. Overall canals played a role in reducing transport expenses promoting trade between production hubs and markets, ultimately driving prosperity forward.

(Figure 5) A barge loading up materials to be transported accross the bridgewater canal.

What role did the expansion of the railway network play in accelerating industrialization and urbanisation?

(Figure 6) A stereograph of passengers at a train station in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, ca. 1850.

During the mid 1800s the Stockton and Darlington Railway was established in 1825 marking the dawn of steam powered trains that revolutionised transportation and boosted market competitiveness. From 1825, to 1950 railways expanded rapidly throughout Europe and North America, (refer to figure 7 and Appendix 3b) connecting regions to markets and resources. This development streamlined the movement of materials to factories.

Finished products to markets leading to reduced transportation costs and broader market access. Consequently new industrial hubs emerged as a result of increased connectivity via railways. Industries like coal mining and steel production flourished due to improved access to resources and larger markets. The growth of railway networks also facilitated worker mobility allowing individuals to migrate to areas, with job opportunities fueling urbanization.(refer to figure 6 and Appendix 3a) .

By the 1800s railways had become essential in reshaping social landscapes significantly influencing production methods, trade dynamics and human settlement patterns.

(Figure 7) Map of routes for a Pacific railroad, compiled to accompany the report of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, sec. of war

(Figure 8) Railway blueprint drawing 1936 showcasing the ongoing developments of the railway network

How did improvements in road networks and the proliferation of horse-drawn carriages impact trade and communication between regions?

(Figure 9) Extract from an Act of Parliament which created a turnpike on the road from Leeds to Selby, 1740 (RAIL 800/241/2)

Improvements in road systems and the widespread use of horse drawn carriages played a role in enhancing trade and communication between regions. The introduction of turnpike roads in 18th century Britain, regulated by Acts of Parliament led to travel times and reduced costs. These roads, managed by turnpike trusts (refer to figure 9) and funded through tolls greatly increased the efficiency of transportation. Celia Fiennes, a traveller from that time period noted how the upgraded roads facilitated journeys  (refer to Appendix 4a) , which were crucial for promoting activities.

Horse drawn carriages and stagecoaches became essential for transporting mail, passengers and goods over distances. Fiennes also remarked on how these improved roads improved connectivity and encouraged integration on a scale that allowed traders to explore markets and access a range of resources.  (Refer to Appendix 4b). Additionally the advancements in road infrastructure and carriage services facilitated the spread of news and information as evidenced by the increase in newspaper circulation, during that century.

In what ways did the invention and widespread adoption of steam-powered ships revolutionise global trade and transportation of goods?

(Figure 10) This antique photograph depicts a steamboat making its way down the Mississippi River.

(Figure 11) A patent granted by the Georgia Assembly to Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet for their steam engine, 1789.

(Figure 12) A print depicting Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont, which had its first successful journey in 1807.

The invention and widespread adoption of steam-powered ships revolutionised global trade and transportation in several significant ways. Firstly, they greatly reduced travel time compared to sailing vessels, enabling faster delivery of goods. According to contemporary reports in “boarding ships circa 1890”  (refer to appendix 5a) from the 19th century, steamships reduced the average voyage time between Europe and America by more than half, from around 60 days to just 12 to 15 days. This acceleration facilitated more frequent trade cycles and improved market responsiveness.

Secondly, steamships were less reliant on wind patterns and could navigate more reliably, allowing for year-round shipping regardless of weather conditions (refer to figure 10 and appendix 5b). This reliability is seen in reports from "The London Times' ' of the era, highlighting how steamships minimised delays and uncertainties associated with wind-powered vessels.

Overall, the introduction of steam-powered ships significantly enhanced the efficiency, reliability, and speed of global trade, laying the foundation for the interconnected world we inhabit today.

How did the expansion of transportation during the industrial revolution influence labour migration, urbanisation, and the rise of new economic centres?

(Figure 13) An 1850 map with the title “Traveller’s Map of New England and Canada Showing all the Railroad, Steamboat, Canal and Stage Routes.

The expansion of transportation during the Industrial Revolution significantly influenced labour migration, urbanisation, and the rise of new economic centres. The proliferation of railways, like those detailed in  (refer to figure 13 and Appendix 6a), and steamships drastically cut travel times, enabling swift movement of goods and people. Railroads connected previously isolated areas, promoting industrial growth in cities like Scranton and Indianapolis which lacked waterway access​ (The HISTORY Channel)​.

Improved transportation infrastructure facilitated mass migration to urban centres. For instance, the expansion of the U.S. railroad system saw rural populations move to cities for industrial jobs, contributing to urban growth by 15 million people between 1880 and 1900​ (The Library of Congress)​. This influx, with innovations in mass transit, like trolleys and subways, transformed cities into huge economic centres.

Primary sources from the Sadler Committee's report highlight how industrial employment drew workers from rural areas to factories, intensifying urbanisation,(refer to Appendix 6b).

Bibliography

Primary sources:

• Fiennes, C. (2023). Through England on a Side Saddle in the Time of William and Mary. 1st ed. [online] Project Gutenberg, PDF: London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co.; Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1888, Reprint 2006., pp.1–345. Available at: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72156 [Accessed 23 May 2024].
• joe, D. (2022). Industrial Revolution | IDCA. [online] history.iowa.gov. Available at: https://history.iowa.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets/industrial-revolution [Accessed 19 May 2024].
• kurk, M. (2011). Trent and Mersey Canal. [online] Trent and Mersey Canal. Available at: http://www.trentandmerseycanalsociety.org [Accessed 19 May 2024].
• schlager, werner (2020). WATCH: Railroads and the Industrial Revolution (video). [online] Khan Academy. Available at: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/whp-origins/era-6-the-long-nineteenth-century-1750-ce-to-1914-ce/62-industrialization-betaa/v/the-railroad-journey-and-the-industrial-revolution-crash-course-world-history-214-beta [Accessed 20 May 2024].
• sinclair, G. (2021). 11.5: Primary Source: The Life of the Industrial Worker in Ninteenth-Century England — Evidence Given Before the Sadler Committee (1831-1832). [online] Humanities LibreTexts. Available at: https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/Lumen_Learning/Book%3A_History_of_World_Civilization_II-2_(Lumen)/11%3A_9%3A_Industrial_Revolution/11.5%3A_Primary_Source%3A_The_Life_of_the_Industrial_Worker_in_Ninteenth-Century_England__Evidence_Given_Before_the_Sadler_Committee_(1831-1832) [Accessed 22 May 2024].
• Teach and Thrive (2021). Primary Source Documents for the Industrial Revolution with Questions. [online] Teach 'n Thrive. Available at: https://teachnthrive.com/history-passages/world-history-passages/primary-source-documents-for-the-industrial-revolution/ [Accessed 17 May 2024].
• Telford, T. (2007). Thomas Telford and the Ellesmere Canal, 1793-1813 . 1st ed. [online] PDF: RCHS, pp.1–7. Available at: https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Telford-the-Ellesmere-Canal-Jul-2007.pdf [Accessed 23 May 2024].
• Unknown (2008). The Canal. [online] Visit Ellesmere. Available at: https://www.ellesmere.info/the-town/the-canal/ [Accessed 24 May 2024].
• Unknown (2011). Home. [online] The Bridgewater Canal. Available at: https://bridgewatercanal.co.uk.
• Winston, D. (2015). History of the Bridgewater Canal. [online] Historic UK. Available at: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/The-Bridgewater-Canal/.
• Witney, E. (2021). Industrial Revolution - Transportation Improvements. [online] industrialrevolutionresearch.com. Available at: https://industrialrevolutionresearch.com/industrial_revolution_transportation.php [Accessed 21 May 2024].

Secondary Sources:

• anonymous (2013). Canals Were at Their Height during the Industrial Revolution. [online] ThoughtCo. Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/development-of-canals-the-industrial-revolution-1221646#:~:text=The%20Solution%3A%20Canals&text=It%20was%20opened%20in%201761 [Accessed 18 May 2024].
• Awra, A. (2011). Roads, Canals, and Rails in the 1800s | National Geographic Society. [online] education.nationalgeographic.org. Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/early-transportation/.
• grover, fin (2017). Innovations in Transportation | Boundless World History. [online] courses.lumenlearning.com. Available at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/tc3-boundless-worldhistory/chapter/innovations-in-transportation/#:~:text=The%20British%20canal%20system%20of [Accessed 22 May 2024].
• Andreas, Fin. “Railroads during the Industrial Revolution.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, 18 Apr. 2016, learninglab.si.edu/collections/railroads-during-the-industrial-revolution/kgPsL6xKwgmV8W4R. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Britannica. “Railroad - Railroad History.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/technology/railroad/Railroad-history. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Cather, Don. “Railways - All Aboard!” Railways.org.uk, railways.org.uk/blog/2023/10/29/the-impact-of-railways-on-industrialization-in-the-uk. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• “Changes in Transport during the Industrial Revolution.” History Skills, www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-9/yr-9-transport-reading/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Clark, Gregory. The Industrial Revolution.
• ENGINEERING DRAWINGS. 27 May 2024.
• Fiennes, Celia, and Internet Archive. The Journeys of Celia Fiennes. Internet Archive, London Cresset Press, 1947, archive.org/details/journeysofceliaf0000fien/page/n433/mode/2up. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Library of Congress. “The Industrial Revolution in the United States | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress.” Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, 2020, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/industrial-revolution-in-the-united-states/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Moorhouse, Dan. “Roads, Railways and Canals | Schoolshistory.org.uk.” Schoolshistory.org.uk, 2017, schoolshistory.org.uk/topics/british-history/industrial-revolution/railways-and-canals/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Randy, Tim. Horse-Drawn Carriage, Dublin C1900 | the Geography of Transport Systems. transportgeography.org/contents/chapter1/emergence-of-mechanized-transportation-systems/horse-drawn-carriage-dublin-c1900/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Simkin, John. “Transport and the Industrial Revolution.” Spartacus Educational, 2013, spartacus-educational.com/U3Ahistory17.htm. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• ---. “Transport and the Industrial Revolution.” Spartacus Educational, 2013, spartacus-educational.com/U3Ahistory17.htm. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• “The Origins of the Steamship.” HowStuffWorks, 1 Jan. 1970, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/steamship.htm. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• “The Stockton & Darlington Railway.” Tees Valley Museums, 27 May 2024, teesvalleymuseums.org/theme/the-stockton-darlington-railway/view-object/centenary-celebrations-of-the-opening-of-the-stockton-darlington-railway. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Ward, Charlotte. “Sail to Steam: A Timeline of the Development of Maritime Steam Power.” History Hit, 4 Jan. 2022, www.historyhit.com/a-timeline-of-the-development-of-maritime-steam-power/. Accessed 27 May 2024.
• Wilde, Robert. “How Did Roads, Canals and Rail Develop in the Industrial Revolution?” ThoughtCo, 2017, www.thoughtco.com/transport-in-the-industrial-revolution-1221653 . Accessed 27 July 2024.
• Wong, Sally. The British Industrial Revolution | Guided History. 27 May 2024, blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/moderneurope/andrew-readel/.

Appendix

Appendix 1

1a)

1a)”Since the geographical pattern of prices is the basis of the analysis, I begin with it. Figure 2 maps prices for c. 1695. The pattern is well known, but the salient points need emphasis since they are fundamental to the procedure. The cheapest coal was in Coalbrookdale, located northwest of Birmingham (3 shillings per ton), and Newcastle (5 shillings per ton). There are only a few midlands locations, and prices there were a bit higher (e.g., 6 shillings in Derby and 10 in Nottingham). Welsh prices were also higher (e.g., 17 shillings in Pembroke). Prices were even higher along the east coast (24 shillings at Norwich) and higher still in the Thames Valley. The highest prices were along the south coast (e.g., 50 at Chichester), the upper Thames Valley (41 in Oxford), and north and northwest of London (40 at Northampton or 54 at Hitchin).”

Appendix 2

2a) 

"The completion of the Ellesmere Canal has been instrumental in stimulating the industrial expansion of the region, by providing a vital artery for the transportation of raw materials and manufactured goods, thereby facilitating economic development and fostering industrial growth."​ - Thomas telford

2b)

"The benefits which will result to the agricultural and commercial interests of the country from the general establishment of this system of inland navigation will, I trust, be found important and permanent."​- Thomas telford

Appendix 3

3a)

Figure 6 shows a stereograph of passengers at a train station in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, ca. 1850. The primary source showcases the increased number of workers as a result of increased demand for steel, coal, and labour, driving further industrial growth. As markets expand and transportation becomes faster and cheaper, an influx of workers can be seen at the railway centre.

3b)

Figure 7 shows a map of routes for a Pacific railroad, compiled to accompany the report of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, sec. of war. The primary source demonstrates the complex railway network being developed in North America as a result of the expansion of urbanisation caused by the industrial revolution. As trade increases and markets expand to an international level, transportation must be able to accommodate, hence the construction of massive railway projects.

Appendix 4

4a)

"The highways are very fair and good, especially the great road to London, and you may travel with much more ease and expedition. The carriages of all sorts, from the coach to the cart, go with much more ease and speed." - Celia Fiennes

4b)

"I have observed that the roads are made very good by the care of the country people, and that the stages are well provided with horses and very commodious." - Celia Fiennes

Appendix 5

5a)

“Before the mid-1800s, the journey to America was long and difficult. Immigrants first travelled by foot or cart to a nearby port where they arranged and then waited for a sailing ship to take them to America. Poor immigrants travelled to America on ships that were making their return voyage after having carried tobacco or cotton to Europe. The voyage took between 40 and 90 days, depending on the wind and weather. In steerage, ships were crowded (each passenger having about two square feet of space) and dirty (lice and rats abounded), and passengers had little food and ventilation. Between 10-20% of those who left Europe died on board. From the 1860s, getting to America became shorter and less dangerous when railways enabled an easier trip to the port of departure and steamships sought to attract immigrants as passengers. Conditions in steerage were still harsh, but steamships ran on regular schedules, and the crossing time was reduced to 7-10 days. The shift from sail power to steam power enabled the temporary migration of ‘sojourners’ - house painters and quarrymen who returned to their homeland when their jobs vanished in the American winter.”

5b)

“Before harnessing the power of steam, people relied on the whims of wind and weather to get around on sailing ships. Steamships could better handle rough seas and offered a viable alternative, enabling vessels to navigate rivers, lakes and oceans regardless of wind conditions. This breakthrough allowed for more precise scheduling, increased reliability and faster travel times, ultimately changing global trade and transportation.”

Appendix 6

6a)

An 1850 map with the title “Traveller’s Map of New England and Canada Showing all the Railroad, Steamboat, Canal and Stage Routes.” The primary source illustrates the complex system of transportation developed during the industrial revolution as markers expanded and international trade increased.

6b)

“In 1832 Michael Sadler secured a Parliamentary investigation of conditions in the textile factories and he sat as chairman on the committee. The evidence printed here is taken from the large body published in the committee’s report and is representative rather than exceptional. It will be observed that the questions are frequently leading; this reflects Sadler’s knowledge of the sort of information that the committee were to hear and his purpose of bringing it out. This report stands out as one of three great reports on the life of the industrial class — the two others being that of the Ashley Commission on the mines and report on sanitary problems. The immediate effect of the investigation and the report was the passage of the Act of 1833 limiting hours of employment for women and children in textile work.” — Scott and Baltzly