Why were raw materials necessary in the industrialization process?

Raw materials were needed during the Industrial Revolution. Raw materials are used to make the finished products made in the factories. Raw materials could be a resource like coal that could be used to power machines. It could also be a resource like cotton that could be used to make clothes. Without raw materials, it would be very difficult to produce a lot of products at one time. A country such as Great Britain wanted to have colonies so they would have access to raw materials. If Great Britain had colonies, they could get the raw materials cheaper from the colonies than they could if they bought them from other countries. Additionally, Great Britain would have a guaranteed market for its finished products. They knew they could sell the products made in their factories in the colonies. Thus, there was an economic benefit to having colonies. Raw materials were essentially to the process of industrialization.