Canals and transport in the Industrial Revolution
Study note
As industry grew, Britain needed much better transport to move heavy raw materials in and finished goods out of the factories. The answer it reached for first was the canal. Canals were dug to link factories with the towns, cities and ports that needed their products. They were especially important in the new industrial areas in the middle and north of England.
Life for the workers who powered all this industry was hard. Working conditions in the factories were often dangerous, the hours were very long, and at first there were no laws to protect employees at all. A true or false question describing these harsh, unregulated conditions should therefore be answered true. Reforms to improve matters came only gradually later in the 19th century.
Memory tip: Canals linked factories to towns and ports, especially in the Midlands and the north of England.
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Question 1 of 2
What were built to link factories with towns, cities and ports during the Industrial Revolution?
Show all questions and answers for Canals and transport in the Industrial Revolution(2 questions with explanations)
Canals and transport in the Industrial Revolution: questions, answers and explanations
1. What were built to link factories with towns, cities and ports during the Industrial Revolution?
- Hill forts
- Cathedrals
- Canals
- Castles
Correct answer: Canals
Canals were built to transport goods between factories, towns and ports.
2. Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were often dangerous, with long hours and no laws to protect workers.
- True
- False
Correct answer: True
True. There were no laws to protect employees, who often worked long hours in dangerous conditions.
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