Thursday

Thursday 20th November

20.11.25

LC: To be able to multiply 1-digit numbers with up to two decimal places by 1-digit whole numbers, with regrouping.

Thursday 20th November

LC: To build a picture of the influential north-west of England during the Industrial Revolution

The Port of Liverpool in the Industrial Revolution

What was the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution was a time (around 1750–1900) when Britain changed from being mostly farming and small workshops to having big factories, machines, and busy cities. Lots of new inventions made work faster and cheaper.

Why Was the Port of Liverpool Important?

1. A Perfect Location

Liverpool is on the River Mersey, which leads straight into the Irish Sea and then to the Atlantic Ocean.
This meant ships from Liverpool could easily travel to America, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world.

2. Moving Goods In and Out

Liverpool became one of the busiest ports in the world. Huge amounts of goods were shipped through it, such as:

Cotton from the Americas, used in Lancashire’s textile mills
Sugar, tobacco, and spices from overseas
British-made goods like cloth, pottery, and tools, sent to be sold around the world

This made Liverpool a very rich and important trading centre.

3. Growth of Factories and Jobs

Because so many raw materials arrived in Liverpool, factories grew in nearby places like Manchester.
Liverpool’s port created thousands of jobs, including:

Dock workers
Sailors
Ship builders
Warehouse workers
Merchants (people who buy and sell goods)

The city grew quickly as people moved there to work.

4. The Slave Trade

During the 1700s, Liverpool became the biggest British port involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Ships sailed from Liverpool carrying goods to Africa, transported enslaved African people to the Americas, then brought goods like sugar and cotton back to Liverpool.

This made the city wealthy, but it was built on great suffering.
Today, Liverpool teaches this history through museums such as the International Slavery Museum so people understand what happened and why it was wrong.

5. New Technology

Liverpool helped speed up the Industrial Revolution because it supported new inventions, such as:

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (opened 1830) — the world’s first passenger railway between two cities
Huge docks and warehouses, including the famous Albert Dock

These made moving goods faster and helped Britain become an industrial powerhouse.

Albert Dock today.

Why Was the Port of Liverpool So Important? – Summary

It connected Britain with the rest of the world
It brought in raw materials needed for factories
It exported goods made in Britain
It created thousands of jobs and helped cities grow
It played a major role in Britain’s economy
It is part of Liverpool’s identity and history

Your Task

(Write 4–5 sentences)

Explain why the Port of Liverpool was important during the Industrial Revolution.

WAGOLL

During the Industrial Revolution, the Port of Liverpool became one of the busiest and most important ports in the world. Its location on the River Mersey made it easy for ships to travel to and from places like America and the Caribbean. Huge amounts of goods—such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco—arrived in Liverpool and were sent to nearby factories, helping cities like Manchester grow. Although the port brought great wealth, part of its history includes the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which caused terrible suffering. Today, Liverpool remembers this history through museums and education.