|
The
population was increasing |
| The number of people in the
British isles went up from 10.7 million to about 27 million in the space
of 100 years. Textile producers sore the opportunity to get rich by
producing more so the demand for textiles grew. |
| The
supply of raw cotton grew |
| After North America became
independent in 1783 the Americans were free to look for new products to
sell. The cotton plantations became very succesful. Eli Whiteny invented
in 1793 a cotton gin which helped slaves to prepare cotton 50 times faster
than before. This meant that cheap imports from the States into Britain
was growing. |
| People
spent more money in the 18th century |
| Some of the money was spent on
clothes. There was therefore a higher demand for cotton to make the
clothes. |
| There
was a great expansion in trade |
| Britain was the worlds leading
trader. British ships carried goods all over the world. By the early 19th
century cotton goods made up nearly half of Britain's exports. |
