Cottage Industry and the Factory System Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Britain when it did? How quickly and decisively did it transform industrial technology, class relations and living standards? Duncan Bythell | Published in History Today Volume 33 Issue 4 April 1983 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Industrial RevolutionScience & Technology Related Articles Toil and Technology in Britain and America The Industrial Revolution: Why Britain Got There First Popular articles Absinthe: From Green Fairy to Moral Panic Sarah Mae Flemming and the Forgotten Women of Civil Rights