The Industrial Revolution spread to continental Western Europe and by the end of the 19th century, it made its way to the United States, Russia, and Japan. New technologies and sources of energy generated vast increases in production and spawned an unprecedented urbanization as well. Different histories, cultures, and societies ensured that the Industrial Revolution unfolded variously in the diverse countries in which it became established. Differences in the pace and timing of industrialization, the size and shape of major industries, the role of state, the political expression of social conflict, and many other factors have made this process rich in comparative possibilities. American industrialization began in the textile industry of New England which had a growing domestic market, and its relative political stability combined to make the United States the world's leading industrial power. The United States also pioneered techniques of mass production, using interchangeable parts, the assembly line, and "scientific management" to produce for a mass market.
A difference between Russia and the United States lay in the source of social and economic change. The United States changed from the society as farmers, workers, and businessmen sought new opportunities and operated in a political system that gave them varying degrees of expression. By 1809, the Russian Industrial Revolution was launched and growing rapidly. It focused on railroads and heavy industry and was fueled by a substantial amount of foreign investment.
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