1.Historical Context

• What characterised the shift in production during the Industrial Revolution in Britain?

  The replacement of skilled workers producing goods in their own homes with mass production using machinery in factories.
• Who invented the water frame, marking the birth of the factory system, and when was the first factory opened?

  Richard Arkwright invented the water frame, patented in 1769, and opened his first factory in Cromford, Derbyshire, in 1771.
• What technological advancement allowed textile mills to be situated anywhere, not just near rivers?

  The development of the Boulton & Watt steam engine, available from 1781, eliminated the need for waterpower, enabling mills to be located anywhere.
• What was the nickname given to Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, and why?

  "Cottonopolis," due to its status as one of the world's largest producers of textiles, supported by excellent transport links.
• What acts contributed to Manchester's recognition as a significant commercial center?

  The 1832 Reform Act granted Manchester two MPs, and the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act led to its status as a municipal borough in 1838, eventually becoming a city in 1853.