11 Weird Industrial Revolution Facts You Didn’t Learn in School

Do you remember anything from school?

A few weird facts have stuck in our minds over the years, such as “mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell” and “the Industrial Revolution started in the 18th century.”

But did you ever think about all the stuff they didn’t teach you in school? Every historical event is so jam-packed with small details that it’s impossible to fit everything into a history book.

There are some Industrial Revolution facts that are weird, interesting, and relatively unknown. You may even gain a whole new appreciation for this period of time.

Do you want to know more? Keep reading to discover 11 weird industrial revolution facts you didn’t learn in school.

1. It All Started in Britain

Perhaps the most important facts about the industrial revolution is how it all started.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, everyone in Britain grew their own food and made their own clothes. However, things soon changed as people began adapting their own special jobs. People would ship their goods to the U.K., where it was made into the final product and then shipped back out.

2. Yarn Became a Turning Point

Did you ever stop to think about where your clothes come from or how they’re made?

Industrialization facts tell us that the spinning jenny was one of the best products of the Industrial Revolution. It gave workers a way to create yarn quicker and more efficiently to modernize the clothing industry.

It’s thanks to the Industrial Revolution that we can gaze at these modern-day weird fashion trends.

3. Not Everyone Liked Change

It’s not just weird people in today’s world that hate change. Since the dawn of time, people have been afraid to change what they know.

Luddites were a group of people who came together to halt progress. They’d even go as far to destroy factories and expensive machines.

4. Fossil Fuels Became Mainstream

There’s a lot of debate today about fossil fuels and the need to switch to a greener energy supply. But did you ever think about the weird person who saw oil for the first time and decided it could be used as power?

One of the most interesting industrial revolution facts is that we can thank the revolution for our power source. When people started inventing bigger machines, they needed a way to power them. This caused society to turn to fossil fuels.

5. The Lower Class Dropped Lower

One of the Industrial Revolution key points to remember is that not everyone found a better life.

Upper and middle class were able to grow thanks to modern technology. However, many lower-class citizens started moving to the city to get in on the Industrial Revolution. The only problem was that there were too many.

Cities couldn’t build and upkeep enough houses to account for this influx. Poorer areas became overcrowded and turned into slums.

6. The Revolution Shaped the World

Throughout time, humans have adapted and grown to live better lives. There are many industrial revolution fun facts, but none as important as this: the Industrial Revolution shaped the world.

It’s considered the most important thing to happen since the domestication of animals, and it’s completely changed our lives. Most companies, including Andantex, would probably not be around if it wasn’t for the Industrial Revolution.

7. Not Everyone Got Industrialized

Some facts about the Industrial Revolution are often overlooked.

While it all began in Britain, it quickly spread to other countries all around the world. However, not every country became industrialized.

There are still many third-world countries that have been doing things the same way for hundreds of years, such as walking miles to collect water and making their own clothes.

8. There’s a Bad Side to Everything

Most (if not all) of the Industrial Revolution facts you learn in school are positive. But, everything has a bad side – including the Industrial Revolution!

This was the start of our air pollution problem. Factories started popping up everywhere and were powered completely on coal and other fossil fuels. This began to plague the air in most cities across the world, and it’s still something we’re not free of 300 years later.

The working conditions were also a negative part of the Industrial Revolution. Many factories were dirty and unsafe. And adults weren’t the only ones suffering.

9. Child Laborers were Common

Young, poor children made up a large percentage of the factory workforce. Many of them quit school to work full time in these dangerous factories. Children as young as 4 years old have been known to hold these jobs.

We all know some Industrial Revolution facts about child labor and how it lead to child labor laws. However, these laws didn’t come into place until the very end of the revolution.

10. Capitalism is Born

Capitalism is a term we hear very often in today’s world. But one of the Industrial Revolution key points is that it started capitalism.

Since wealthy people began purchasing and building factories, they were in control of their profits. These people quickly learned how to maximize their profits and make a lot of money for themselves.

This is why we have privately-owned businesses and investments. Now, we have all sorts of weird small investments opportunities to take advantage of.

11. Machines Were Showcased

If you have it, flaunt it, right? One of the best Industrial Revolution fun facts is that Britain did just that.

They created the first ever World’s Fair. This fair took place in 1851 and was made to showcase all of the amazing inventions that were created thanks to the revolution. Some of the most impressive machines include the sewing machine and the telegraph.

The Best Weird Industrial Revolution Facts

Although the Industrial Revolution happened hundreds of years ago, it still finds its way into history books and lessons at school. This is because it changed the world, and many of our inventions are products from the revolution.

But they don’t teach you everything in school. Some of the best weird Industrial Revolution facts include that yarn was a turning point to the revolution, fossil fuels became the main power source, and slums were created.

Did you like these weird facts? Check out our popular weirdness for more posts like this.

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