1760 marks the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. With the Industrial Revolution came numerous inventions, but none could be made possible without the invention of the factory. In 1721, John Lombe made one of the first successful fully mechanized factories located in Britain. It was powered by a water spinning wheel, and it produced silk that was spun into thread. Later, in 1769, after he had patented the water frame, Richard Arkwright is credited with making the prototype for the modern-day factory. America’s need for an Industrial Revolution sparked with the Embargo Act of 1807 and the War of 1812. After the Embargo Act of 1807, America was unable to trade goods with other nations, so they had to produce their own goods. The War of
