Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution in Britain transformed textile manufacturing with key inventions like the spinning jenny and water frame, which greatly increased efficiency and led to the rise of textile factories. The government protected these advancements to maintain economic superiority.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Industrial Revolution, British textile manufacturing underwent a transformation with the introduction of innovative machinery, reducing reliance on manual labor. Key inventions such as Kay's flying shuttle (1733), Hargreaves' spinning jenny (1764), and Arkwright's water frame (1769) dramatically increased productivity in the spinning and weaving processes.
It's notable that the production of 100 pounds of cotton, which took 50,000 hours of manual labor using traditional Indian tools, was reduced to just 300 hours in the 1790s, and further to 135 hours by the 1830s due to these advancements.
The textile factory-based production system emerged as factories, often powered by a central water wheel or steam engine, became the new workplace. This mass production was pivotal for the textile industry as well as for other industries, including processed foods and clothing.
Moreover, the British government took measures to protect their technological advancements by banning the export of textile machinery and prohibiting textile workers from sharing information or leaving Britain, showcasing the strategic importance of this sector to the national economy.