The Role Of Steam Engines During The Industrial Revolution

Despite the fact that since the first century there had been experimenting with steam engines, it was not until 1712 that Thomas Newcomen invented the first successful steam-powered machine. It was elaborate and huge in design, but was the breakthrough in technology that society needed. This machine allowed industries to evolve into platforms that were more efficient and eased the heavy labor that people were accustomed to at that time. It even relocated average living from rural to urban areas. The steam machine was an amazing invention that’s complex design and many purposes changed society’s lives forever. Newcomen’s steam engine, also known as an atmospheric engine, consisted of a steam piston/cylinder that moves a large wooden beam to drive the water pump. The engine does not use steam pressure to push up the steam piston as one would think, but rather, constructed so that the beam is heavier on the main pump side, utilizing gravity to pull down the main pump side …show more content…
It was arguably the most important invention during the Industrial Revolution, “reciprocating a continuous process of industrialization and technical change, and hence sustained economic growth.” This was due largely by reducing the amount of work done by people and by increasing production. There were other changes in society than workload alone. For instance, inhabitances changed. In 1801, 82% of the 11 million Britain residents lived in rural area, but by 1852, 50% of the now 20 million residences lived in a major city or town. In the early 1800s, jobs were more abundant in the agricultural industry, but by the mid-1800s, the steam engine and the Industrial Revolution had inspired people to move closer to cities for better employment. The steam engine impacted society astronomically, from places of living to workplace workload, but its greatest impact was sparking the Industrial