Britain 1800 - 1914Britain 1800 - 1914

Change and StabilityChange and Stability

CHANGES 1CHANGES 1 New farming and animal husbandry New farming and animal husbandry

techniquestechniques New manufacturing methodsNew manufacturing methods

Growth in use of machinery in factoriesGrowth in use of machinery in factories UrbanisationUrbanisation

Growth of industries and employmentGrowth of industries and employment Growth of townsGrowth of towns

New social classesNew social classes Wealthy business ownersWealthy business owners Huge industrial workforceHuge industrial workforce

Popular political movementsPopular political movements People able to voice their grievancesPeople able to voice their grievances Change in political systemChange in political system More representative of populationMore representative of population Greater protection of interestGreater protection of interest

Social ReformsSocial Reforms Change in patterns of educationChange in patterns of education Free basic educationFree basic education Greater access to tertiary educationGreater access to tertiary education

Increased prosperityIncreased prosperity Increased leisure time/recreational activitiesIncreased leisure time/recreational activities

SIGNFICANCESIGNFICANCE Changes are multifacetedChanges are multifaceted Changes amount to an economic revolutionChanges amount to an economic revolution Changes included agricultural and industrial Changes included agricultural and industrial

revolutionsrevolutions Emphasised a break with traditionEmphasised a break with tradition Change was occurring at an ever increasing Change was occurring at an ever increasing

pace – greater than previously experiencedpace – greater than previously experienced

HISTORICAL QUESTIONSHISTORICAL QUESTIONS

Did change contribute to stability?Did change contribute to stability? Did stability set limits to change?Did stability set limits to change? Were the changes superficial or Were the changes superficial or

fundamental?fundamental? Who or what caused the changes?Who or what caused the changes? What did people at the time think was What did people at the time think was

happening?happening?

New farming and animal New farming and animal husbandry techniqueshusbandry techniques

Seed drill – more precise sowingSeed drill – more precise sowing Horse drawn hoe – easier for weeding Horse drawn hoe – easier for weeding

and crop cultivationand crop cultivation New types of crops – turnips, clover – led New types of crops – turnips, clover – led

to improved soil qualityto improved soil quality Selective breeding of stock – led to Selective breeding of stock – led to

increased meat, milk and fleece yieldsincreased meat, milk and fleece yields Enclosure ActEnclosure Act

FARMING CHANGESFARMING CHANGES

Significant population increases led to Significant population increases led to greater demand for farm productsgreater demand for farm products

Better for wealthier, larger landholdersBetter for wealthier, larger landholders Conditions worsened for the poorer, Conditions worsened for the poorer,

smaller rural populationsmaller rural population Mechanisation led to shift in labour Mechanisation led to shift in labour

supply from rural agricultural to urban supply from rural agricultural to urban industrialindustrial

New manufacturing methodsNew manufacturing methodsGrowth in use of machinery in factoriesGrowth in use of machinery in factories

Technical innovations increased outputTechnical innovations increased output Hargreaves’ Spinning JennyHargreaves’ Spinning Jenny Arkwright’s water frameArkwright’s water frame Crompton’s muleCrompton’s mule

Steam power allowed mining, cotton and iron industries to Steam power allowed mining, cotton and iron industries to expandexpand

Improvement in iron & steel – use of coke instead of Improvement in iron & steel – use of coke instead of charcoal – lowered cost and increased outputcharcoal – lowered cost and increased output

Development of the factory – hired workforce, power Development of the factory – hired workforce, power driven machinery, large standardised outputdriven machinery, large standardised output

Improved transportation – roads, canals, steam trains, Improved transportation – roads, canals, steam trains, steamships led to increased trade within Britain and for steamships led to increased trade within Britain and for exportexport

UrbanisationUrbanisationGrowth of industries, employment, Growth of industries, employment, townstowns

Factory based instead of cottage basedFactory based instead of cottage based Powered machines instead of hand toolsPowered machines instead of hand tools Located near raw materialsLocated near raw materials Concentration of population near Concentration of population near

workplaces – urbanisationworkplaces – urbanisation

New social classesNew social classesWealthy business ownersWealthy business ownersHuge industrial workforceHuge industrial workforce

Ownership and control concentrated in Ownership and control concentrated in the hands of a few - capitalist classthe hands of a few - capitalist class

Middle class benefited the mostMiddle class benefited the most Factory owners and managersFactory owners and managers Office and skilled workersOffice and skilled workers Small business ownersSmall business owners

Reduction in status of workers – hired Reduction in status of workers – hired help – 2 million factory workers in 1850help – 2 million factory workers in 1850

Popular political movementsPopular political movements People able to voice their grievancesPeople able to voice their grievances

Better educated and greater awarenessBetter educated and greater awareness Change in thinking about custom and traditionChange in thinking about custom and tradition

Change in political systemChange in political system More people given the voteMore people given the vote Fairer representation in governmentFairer representation in government Decline in the crown’s power over ministersDecline in the crown’s power over ministers Increased importance for the lower house – House of Increased importance for the lower house – House of

Commons – abolition of restrictions for candidatesCommons – abolition of restrictions for candidates Organisation of political partiesOrganisation of political parties More frequent electionsMore frequent elections

Greater protection of interestGreater protection of interest

Social ReformsSocial Reforms Education Act 1870Education Act 1870

Free compulsory basic educationFree compulsory basic education Factory Acts Factory Acts

regulated hours and conditions of workregulated hours and conditions of work Municipal Corporations ActMunicipal Corporations Act

town councilstown councils Repeal of laws prohibiting trade unionsRepeal of laws prohibiting trade unions 1848 Act to protect public health1848 Act to protect public health

Water supply; sanitation; housing standardsWater supply; sanitation; housing standards

Increased prosperityIncreased prosperity The Victorian Era – 1837 – 1901The Victorian Era – 1837 – 1901

Period of increased prosperityPeriod of increased prosperity Increased foreign tradeIncreased foreign trade Improvements in mechanisationImprovements in mechanisation Better transportBetter transport Gas lightingGas lighting Drains and sewersDrains and sewers Understanding of how disease spreadsUnderstanding of how disease spreads Improved education levelsImproved education levels Mass media helped develop active political movesMass media helped develop active political moves Changes were not equally shared – some benefitted Changes were not equally shared – some benefitted

others were worse offothers were worse off

Old Age Pensions Act 1908Old Age Pensions Act 1908 Trade Disputes Act 1906Trade Disputes Act 1906 Insurance Act 1911Insurance Act 1911 Trade Boards – minimum wages and Trade Boards – minimum wages and

labour exchanges 1909labour exchanges 1909 Increased trade union membershipIncreased trade union membership

Strikes – mining and transport industriesStrikes – mining and transport industries

Socialism – intellectuals and working Socialism – intellectuals and working class politiciansclass politicians

Increased leisure Increased leisure time/recreational activitiestime/recreational activities

Increase in voluntary associationsIncrease in voluntary associations Self help societies – Literary and Mechanics’ Self help societies – Literary and Mechanics’

InstitutesInstitutes Salvation ArmySalvation Army

Travel, sport, hobbies, family outingsTravel, sport, hobbies, family outings