Final answer:
The massive transition at the turn of the 18th to the 19th century was driven by the Industrial Revolution, which saw significant technological innovations like the steam engine and mechanized manufacturing processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, a massive transition was propelled by the development of new technologies such as the steam engine, the innovations in the textile industry with machines like the Spinning Jenny and the Spinning Mule, and advancements in metallurgy with processes such as the Bessemer process for mass production of steel. This period is known as the Industrial Revolution. It marked a significant shift from manual labor to mechanized manufacturing, transforming society and the economy. The improvement of the steam engine by James Watt was particularly influential, revolutionizing transportation and enabling widespread changes in production and industry. Moreover, the advent of electricity in the late 19th century further advanced industrial capabilities, replacing steam power and contributing to changes in working hours and factory conditions. Technological advancements also played a pivotal role in enabling American expansionism and European imperialism. The railroad, telegraph, steamboat, and innovations such as the Maxim gun facilitated colonial dominion over vast territories and populations, feeding the Industrial Revolutions of the respective colonial powers.