In the 8th century, wood was the main source of energy for Britain and it supplied fuel for homes and small industries, but as the population increased, the demand for wood increased. At the same time, wood is bulky, difficult to transport and expensive, so Britain needed a new source of energy. They found a new source of energy that is cheaper, more reliable, and makes three times more energy than wood, i.e. coal. For Britain, coal was easily mined since the mines were near the sea, so they were easily transported by ships and abundant at the same time, but it was more expensive for other European countries since they struggled with transportation due to their geographical location. Also, Britain had access to cotton from its colonies and could acquire it using slaves. Cotton picking grew simpler as technology advanced, and it was a thriving industry. Because of their formidable navy and other ships, they had access to local and worldwide economies. Three railroads were also constructed to facilitate more efficient trading and transportation of commodities. The first public railway, which extended from
Stockton to Darlington, opened in 825.
All of the developments that were taking place in Britain were held together by the countryยs stable government. Regular parliamentary sessions, as well as extended legislative sessions, provided an opportunity to address local concerns. Fewer bills failed, and promoters gained confidence, resulting in an increase in the number of petitions and legislation. When compared Britain to other European mainland countries, the economies were markedly different. During the pre-Industrial and Industrial Revolution periods, the pound sterling was the national currency, and it is still the currency used today. While the economy of pre-Industrial Britain grew, a bigger percentage of the people gained access to education. Citizens had access to an education that was unavailable in many other nations. Reading abilities improved as a result of greater literacy and more individuals were able to read machine instruction manuals. This meant that more people could begin reading books about the Revolution as it happened, igniting or maintaining interest in technology and innovation.