There was a new move forward in the means of production, known as the second industrial revolution, which took place at the turn of the century. This featured the use of new sources of energy such as electricity and petroleum; industrial diversification with the appearance and growth of new sectors such as the chemical industry; continuous change in the means of communication and transport which gave rise to the birth of the automobile and the aeroplane. Catalonia was not immune to these changes. Although the textile sector continued to be the dominant industry, significant industrial diversification took place and there was increasing use of hydroelectricity. This process was aided by Spanish neutrality during World War I.
