thumb|An 1835 illustration of a Roberts Loom weaving shed The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States from 1760 to the 1830s. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, the increasing use of steam power and water power, the development of machine tools and the rise of the mechanized factory system. The Industrial Revolution also led to an unprecedented rise in the rate of population growth. Textiles were the dominant industry of the Industrial Revolution in terms of employment, value of output and capital invested. The textile industry was also the first to use modern production methods. Rapid industrialization first began in Britain, starting with mechanized spinning in the 1780s, with high rates of growth in steam power and iron production occurring after 1800. Mechanized textile production spread from Great Britain to continental Europe and the United States in the early 19th century, with important centres of textiles, iron and coal emerging in Belgium and the United States and later textiles in France.
thumb|an 1835 illustration of a roberts loom weaving shed the industrial revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in europe and the united states from 1760 to the 1830s this transition included going from hand production methods to machines new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes the increasing use of steam power and water power the development of machine tools and the rise of the mechanized factory system the industrial revolution also led to an unprecedented rise in the rate of population growth textiles were the dominant industry of the industrial revolution in terms of employment value of output and capital invested the textile industry was also the first to use modern production methods rapid industrialization first began in britain starting with mechanized spinning in the 1780s with high rates of growth in steam power and iron production occurring after 1800 mechanized textile production spread from great britain to continental europe and the united states in the early 19th century with important centres of textiles iron and coal emerging in belgium and the united states and later textiles in france