History Quiz - The Industrial Revolution 04 (Questions)

This KS3 History quiz is our final look at the Industrial Revolution. Machinery was being invented constantly during the Industrial Revolution. These developments meant that by the 1830s it needed only 750 workers to produce as much yarn as it would once have taken 200,000 people to spin!

As the new machinery was introduced into factories, employers were able to save money by employing unskilled labourers. This angered skilled workers as more and more were unable to find work. There were various protests, the most well known being that of the Luddites. This group was formed in Nottingham in 1811 and smashed machinery. They were not against the machinery, they were against the fact that their skills were being replaced by machines and unskilled workers.

The first practical steam engine was made by Thomas Savery. It had no moving parts but was able to lift water from mines.

John Newcomen made the next step forward with his steam powered beam engine. This operated a pump that could pump water from much deeper mines. The next key change was thanks to an Industrialist, Matthew Boulton and a Scottish inventor, James Watt. The steam engine they invented was capable of providing rotary (round and round) motion which made it incredibly useful. It could be used to provide the power to turn machinery in textile mills and other factories and lead to the development of the steam locomotive.