Changes in transportation:
During the Industrial revolution, major transportation changes were made in waterways, roads and railroads.
Transportation of goods via water was the least expensive, and this is why many canals were both widened and deepened to make transportation easier. When the first steam-powered engine was made, by Robert Fulton, it was used to power a steamboat.
Great progress was also seen regarding roads, as people mainly traveled either using animals, or on foot. Turnpikes were made in 1751, which made transportation much easier.
The first steam locomotive (by Richard Trevithick) was made in 1801, which eased transportation of heavy goods, and transportation as such.
Changes in textile industry:
In the 18th century there were many inventions that made textile industry more successful.
John Key made the Flying Shuttle, an invention that weaved yarn together in order to make fabric.
In 1764 James Hargreaves patented the Spinning Jenny, which made yarn from fibers.
These inventions led to a higher output of textile, it started being mass produced and middle class could afford it as well.
Changes in communication
Samuel Slater known as the 'Father of the American Industrial Revolution' brought British textile technology to the United States. The British tried to keep their technology secret, and there were even laws in place which forbade export of British textile machinery. Slater managed to memorize how the British technology worked, emigrated to the USA and recreated the British system there.
Changes in communication:
In 1840's the telegraph was invented (by Sir William Cooke and Sir Charles Wheatstone), which made communication easier and more effective. Before the time, it used to take days for a message to get to the recipient, usually by horse, and with the use of telegraph, the time was decreased to just a few minutes.
The steam engine also helped out regarding printing and paper production, making the process faster and making the printed word accessible to more people.
