Prior to industrialization, Europe was a patch-work of agrarian economies and neither France, Germany nor Britain was more urbanized than the other.
Britain's lead, in part, seems to stem from the upward mobility that existed in its social structure. Britain abolished serfdom in the 17th century, freeing Britons from the feudal system centuries before their European counterparts. The legacy of feudalism, inherent in Germany and France, made it impossible to recruit a modern industrial work force as the workers in question were tied to their lands and indentured to a local aristocrat. Conversely, in Britain, the landed aristocracy not only allowed commoners to pursue industry but were eager to exploit the natural resources possessed by their estates. The commoners, in turn, were motivated by the fact that if they were successful in their ventures, they could purchase estates and elevate their position in society.
Britain, unlike other states, had an open mind to foreign ideas. The new industrialists were eager to improve efficiency and imported processes from abroad. British mining benefited from importing German engineers, while Britain's intricate canal system was based on those found in Holland. Ingenuity at home flourished as well under the fledgling form of free market capitalism, as inventors were inspired by the instant wealth that was being acquired. The Act of Union, in 1707, also gave Britain a flood of inventions from the north, as a new breed of Scottish entrepreneurs was exploited. .
The government in Britain best facilitated the rise of industrialism by doing nothing at all. While France and Germany had a very authoritative control over their subjects, Britain embarked on a policy of laissez-faire and disengaged itself from the everyday lives of its citizens. The state did, however, lift old monopolies and aristocratic privileges which leveled the playing field for the average Briton.
