Agriculture Revolution
Many people moved from farms to the city to seek work in the factories, resulting in a smaller percentage of the population left to provide food for the entire rest of the areas with vegetables, meats, and other essentials. This shift placed significant pressure on the agricultural sector to increase productivity and efficiency.
England found the most trouble with providing food for its growing cities. Before the Industrial Revolution, most people were peasant farmers. By 1800, thirty-six percent were involved in agriculture, and by 1900 the number had dropped to less than seven percent. While England experienced this issue the most, other nations found a similar pattern to be true.
New technologies and practices increased agricultural production and also reduced the need for farm workers. New laws in England, such as the Enclosure Acts, changed the way land was distributed among the population. These laws consolidated small landholdings into larger farms, which were more efficient and productive. The farmers who ended up with larger amounts of land were instrumental in bringing "modern" practices to agriculture. For example, they encouraged the use of new crops like turnips and potatoes, which improved soil fertility and provided more reliable food sources. New breeds of cattle and sheep produced more meat and were less susceptible to disease. Horses replaced oxen for pulling machines such as plows, and the practice of using animal manure to fertilize fields and crop rotation methods became common. Farmers discovered that by changing which crops were grown yearly, the soil could recover its fertility more quickly. New drainage techniques allowed for swamps and marshes to be converted into productive farmland.
New inventions further revolutionized agriculture, decreasing the need for human labor and increasing the number of people who could work in factories:
- Chemical Fertilizers: These enhanced the land's fertility and increased crop yields.
- Iron and Steel Tools: These were more durable and efficient than their wooden predecessors.
- Mechanical Seed Drills: These ensured that seeds were planted at the correct depth and spacing, improving germination rates.
- Iron and Steel Plows: These were stronger and less likely to break than wooden plows, making it easier to turn the soil.
- Steam-Powered Threshing Machines and Reapers: These significantly reduced the time and labor needed for harvesting crops.
- Tractors: These replaced horses for pulling heavy machinery, further increasing efficiency.
Agriculture also helped supply factories with the raw materials needed to create products. Cotton, in particular, was essential for the textile mills in England. The United States, with its favorable climate conditions for raising cotton, became a major supplier. As such, England tended to import much of its cotton from the United States, increasing the demand for labor in the US, particularly in the form of enslaved labor before the Civil War.
The Agricultural Revolution was a crucial precursor to the Industrial Revolution. By increasing food production and efficiency, it freed up labor that could then be employed in factories. The advancements in agricultural technology and practices not only sustained a growing urban population but also provided the raw materials necessary for industrial production. This period of transformation in agriculture set the stage for the dramatic changes that would follow in industry and society.