How Did Great Britain Capitalize On The Spark Of Rationalism

Capitalizing on the spark of rationalism during the enlightenment period, the process of industrialization began. This period was mostly characterized by technological developments that mechanized labor, allowing organizations to manufacture at an incredible pace. Great Britain was the first country able to utilize coal as a natural resource on an industrial basis. Due to vast coal deposits located in close proximity to the country as well as many throughout the colonies, the British Empire was able to substitute the use of wood as fuel, through the application of steam engines. Coal extraction had not become a feasible option until the invention of the general-purpose steam engine by James Watt in 1765. Previous engines were using excess amounts
In 1829, the first steam power locomotive reached the speed of 45 kilometers an hour and by the 1850s, steam engines were being built into ships. Becoming a technologically advanced version of the Manila galleons, these new steamships were able to go faster and further than any sail ship could have gone before and with an increase of cargo hold, became the new source for supply and delivery of goods throughout the empire. While Great Britain had maintained its pole position during the industrialization for over 50 years, it was only a matter of time until the other great nations in the West caught up. By the 1850s, France, Belgium and Germany had shifted towards industrialization, and after the unification of Germany in 1871, the Germans had become the new leaders in heavy industry. The Americans were much quicker than the rest of Europe. Having attained the technology necessary in 1820 from English craftsmen, the Americans were able to produce in isolation without too many instances of war. The stable period after the civil war allowed them to develop to an industrialized powerhouse by the end of the century, making them one of the most advanced countries on the