Question

Which one of the following industries is considered as a symbol of a new era in England in the late eighteenth century?
A. Metal
B. Cotton
C. Jute
D. Iron and Steel

Answer 1

Hint: The first industry to develop in the factory production marked a new era in England in the late eighteenth century. A series of changes, inventions and technological developments in the industry of the production allowed a change from domestic system to a factory system. This increased efficiency of the production process and marked the beginning of a surplus supply.

Complete answer:
> The British used to weave their clothes out of wool and flax. Till the early eighteenth century, weaving was a difficult process, but, as technological invention improved, so did the efficiency which reduced the amount of time it took to make the final product involving spinning raw cotton into yarn. We can see that from the 1780s, the industry of cotton symbolised industrialisation in Britain.
> In addition to that, there was standardisation in the process, supervision over the quality of the product, regulated labour and implementation of scientific technologies and mechanisms in factories on a large magnitude. Newly invented machines like Hargreaves, Spinning Jenny,Crompton's mule, Arkwright's water frame etc. were being rapidly used in the textile industry which improved the output per worker as textile manufacturing began getting centred in south Lancashire and the towns on both sides of the Pennines.
> Cloth production was moved away from cottages to factories (first moves were called mills in the spinning sector). There was a change in working practices as earlier, handbook weavers had greater flexibility of time, pace and tools. Factories required a set of fixed working hours, work on machineries that the laborers didn’t own, and greater division of labour. Women and children were also included in the production process. In addition, Britain was protective of its homegrown technology. All these aspects led to the new era of British industrialization.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:
> In 1771, Cromford Mill was the first water-powered cotton spinning mill developed by Richard Arkwright in Cromford, England.
> As England saw rapid industrialization, it also had to witness unprecedented poverty among the labourers because of the forceful work discipline. Workers were reluctant to rebel against the poor wages. In 1787, the first major industrial action in Scotland was of the Calton weavers in Glasgow.