Final answer:
The second industrial revolution was driven by innovations such as steam engines, advancements in textile machinery, and the use of new materials like steel. These innovations revolutionized transportation, increased productivity, and stimulated mass production in various industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second industrial revolution was driven by innovation, which led to significant technological advancements and changes in the manufacturing industry. Key innovations during this period included the development of steam engines, advancements in textile machinery, and the use of new materials like steel. For example, the invention of the steam engine by James Watt and Matthew Boulton revolutionized transportation and enabled the mass production of goods.
In the textile industry, machines like the Spinning Jenny and the Spinning Mule allowed for faster and more cost-effective production of cotton and flax. Additionally, the use of coke instead of charcoal in iron production lowered costs and increased availability.
The technological advancements of the second industrial revolution also had social and economic impacts. The increase in productivity and decrease in production costs led to the growth of factories and the need for a cheap source of wage labor. These advancements and the exploitation of the labor force stimulated shifts toward mass production in various industries, such as cotton, pottery, and metals.