Worksheet: The Textile Industry 1750 - 1900

This lesson resource has been designed to help students studying the changes to the textile industry 1750 - 1900. It can be used with the full spectrum of ability, but the text level of the sources would better suit lower middle to upper ability students. However, if you like this resource, I have also produced a PowerPoint and a card sort, which provide additional differentiation. These can be purchased separately or as a package under the same title .

When you purchase this resource you will be able to download a three page worksheet. This beautifully illustrated resource includes an introduction, which explains why there was an increased demand for textiles in this period. The rest of the worksheet looks in turn at the the introduction of each new machine and explains why it was invented and the impact that it had on the textile industry. Each section is beautifully illustrated with images that can be easily photocopied in either colour or black and white. The worksheet concludes by looking at the impact of the new machines on the why people worked and the organisation of the textile industry.

The activity section includes four questions. The first question aims to get students to explain the link between the population increase and the demand for more textiles. The second question is a table summary exercise, which focuses in turn on each of the new machines. The third and fourth questions are designed to get students to study one of three sources and draw conclusions to explain why some opposed the new machines and the new factory based system. I’ve also included a link in this resource description to a folk song so that students can contrast the sources on the domestic system with the factory system.

The aims and objectives for this lesson are:

Theme: Why did Britain have an industrial revolution 1750 - 1900?
Know: Why did Britain’s textile industry change 1750 - 1900?
Understand: How did each new machine contribute to the changes in the textile industry?
Evaluate: What impact did these new machines have on peoples lives?

WILF: What Am I Looking For?
Identify and describe: Why did Britain’s textile industry change 1750 - 1900?
Explain: How did each new machine contribute to the changes taking place in the textile industry?
Analyse: What impact did these new machines have on peoples lives?

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Kind Regards

Roy