Coal During The Industrial Revolution

Coal mining during the Industrial Revolution in Britain

Throughout history, revolutions have sparked changes that have changed the course of our world. Arguably, the Industrial Revolution brought about more change than any Revolution before it or in the future. During a time of mass production, class conflict, and the rise of slums, the rise of factories created many jobs, but what followed were many devastating effects. To fuel these factories and further expand mass production, coal was needed. Some of the toughest working conditions were seen in the coal mines. During these desperate times people were willing to risk their lives down in the coal mines to provide for their families. Coal mining during the Industrial

The importance of coal caused inventors to come up with ideas for new inventions. The most popular invention that grew all throughout the world was the Steam Engine. The Steam Engine started out as an invention known as the Single Piston Pump, created by Thomas Newcomen. Although this was an incredible new founding, it used large amounts of coal, therefore expensive to operate. Due to this, the Single Piston Pump was not used outside of coal mines. Later, an inventor names James Watt, saw the flaws of the Single Piston Pump and fixed the pump. Therefore, the Single Piston Pump was redeveloped by James Watt. Watt’s new additions required continuous reheating and cooling.This took Watt 3 years to complete, he began to build it in 1773. This was his single-acting Steam Engine. He then patented his advanced double-acting Steam Engine in 1782 which was“...four times more coal-fuel-efficient than the Newcomen engine, which gave it practical use beyond the mining industry.” (Coal 1-2). The Steam Engine had many purposes, mainly it was used to power boats, railways, and to remove water from coal mines. History.alberta.ca states “While the causes of the Industrial Revolution that spread from Great Britain through Western Europe and the United States are multiple and complex, steam power was at the heart of industrial

Just imagine such young children running around a dark coal mine–it simply does not sound safe at all. These children were hired to be able to get into those hard to reach places that fully grown adults were unable to get into.”(Aimee Trevino). Children spent more than 12 hours in the coals mines, and if their lamps ran out of oil they were left in the dark. Coal mines had horrible air ventilation and were very cramped. Children became injured or even faced death due to explosions, concave roofs, and getting ran over by carts. Health was not a big concern in Britain during the Industrial Revolution, causing injuries or even death to children. A few of the many horrific jobs that children performed in coal mines were called door keepers, drammers, colliers’ helpers, and drivers. Door keepers held the ventilation doors that let in coal carts. Drammers pulled carts full of coal to and from the frontline. Colliers’ helpers aided the coal cutting. The children who were colliers’ cutters were usually with their elder male family member during this process of the coal cutting. Lastly, drivers guided horses along the main roads, that carried