Spread of the Industrial Revolution: Globalisation, Empire & Unequal Exchange

From Britain to the World: Industrialisation Goes Global

This ready-to-use Year 9 History resource examines how the Industrial Revolution spread from Britain to Belgium, France, Germany and the United States, and how industrialisation created a global network of raw materials, manufactured goods, empire and unequal exchange.

Students build background knowledge through guided reading, retrieval practice, comparison, mapping and extended-response activities. The lesson asks students to consider who benefited from industrial growth and who paid the human and economic costs.

What is included?

• Historical reading on the spread of industrialisation beyond Britain
• Key vocabulary covering the Zollverein, raw materials, finished goods and empire
• Retrieval activity reviewing city growth, the Agricultural Revolution, inventions, city conditions and enclosures
• Case studies of industrialisation in Belgium, France, Germany and the United States
• Explanation of Britain’s global industrial network and unequal exchange
• Comprehension questions
• USA and Britain comparison activity with paragraph response
• World mapping activity on raw materials, colonies and industrial countries
• Exit ticket
• Complete answer key
• Student digital version
• Introductory slide deck

Key knowledge and skills

Students explain how industrialisation spread, compare national experiences, analyse the role of natural resources, labour, empire and trade, and evaluate the unequal consequences of global industrial development. They also practise retrieval, comparison, mapping, historical explanation and evidence-based judgement.

Australian Curriculum alignment

This resource supports Year 9 Australian Curriculum History content on the Industrial Revolution, global industrialisation, population and economic change, empire, movement of raw materials and manufactured goods, and differing experiences of industrial development.

Relevant outcome codes: AC9HH9K13, AC9HH9K14, AC9HH9S03, AC9HH9S04, AC9HH9S06 and AC9HH9S08.

Perfect for

• Year 9 Industrial Revolution lessons
• Australian Curriculum History
• Guided reading and comprehension
• Comparison and mapping activities
• Globalisation and empire studies
• Historical explanation and judgement
• Relief lessons and sub plans
• Absent students, distance learning and flipped classrooms