Question

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu.

What resource was in high demand during the Industrial Revolution, and why was it so important?

Answer 1

Coal was in high demand during the Industrial Revolution because it was used to fuel the machines and factories used for industrial production.

Answer 2

During the Industrial Revolution, coal was in high demand because it was used as fuel to power the steam engines that drove the factories and machines of the new industrial economy. The steam engines required large amounts of energy to run, and coal was abundant and relatively cheap compared to other energy sources such as wood or water power. The availability of coal allowed the steam engine to be adopted as the dominant source of power for industry, which in turn led to the rapid growth of the Industrial Revolution. Coal was therefore an essential resource for the development of the modern industrial economy.