Final answer:
The textile industry was the catalyst that launched the Industrial Revolution, with the advent of steam-powered machines like the power loom enabling mass production of textiles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The industry that launched the Industrial Revolution was the textile industry. This revolution marked a turning point in history, with significant developments in manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology contributing to major economic and societal changes. During the late 18th century, the northern English textile industry harnessed steam power to drive new machines, such as Edmund Cartwright's power loom developed in 1787.
These innovations allowed for the mass production of cotton and finished cloth. Railroads, steel, and other industries played vital roles as well, but it was the advancements in the textile sector that initially fueled the transformation to industrial society.
As the century progressed, railroad construction and the increased demand for coal, iron, and steel further propelled the revolution. However, it was the ability to produce textiles at a previously unimaginable scale that served as the catalyst, making the textile industry the correct option in answering which industry launched the Industrial Revolution.