What was Britain like in 1750?
Lesson overview – copy the questions into a piece of paper, leaving a few spaces between each question. 1. How many people were there? 2. Who ruled the country? 3. How healthy were people? 4. How did people get around? 5. How did people make money? 6. What kind of “economy” did England have? 7. How ‘Great’ was Britain?
How many people were there? How do historians know how many people lived in Britain in 1750?
Who ruled? George I – German-speaker fabled for his lovers! George I – German-speaker fabled for his lovers! George II – preferred Germany, last King to fight in battle George II – preferred Germany, last King to fight in battle George III – English speaker, occupied Buckingham Palace, farmer George George III – English speaker, occupied Buckingham Palace, farmer George Walpole
How healthy were people? Medicine & hygiene very primitive Medicine & hygiene very primitive Killer diseases – pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, cholera & smallpox Killer diseases – pneumonia, bronchitis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, cholera & smallpox Average life expectancy 30 yrs Average life expectancy 30 yrs 15 in every 100 children died before 1 st birthday 15 in every 100 children died before 1 st birthday 1 in 5 mothers died 1 in 5 mothers died Bacteria
How did people get around? ‘We set out at six in the morning and didn’t get out of the carriages (except when we overturned or got stuck in the mud) for 14 hours. We had nothing to eat and passed through some of the worst roads I ever saw in my life’ ‘We set out at six in the morning and didn’t get out of the carriages (except when we overturned or got stuck in the mud) for 14 hours. We had nothing to eat and passed through some of the worst roads I ever saw in my life’ This is a description of a journey by Queen Anne in 1704 from Windsor to Petworth – a journey of 40 miles. What does it tell us about transport at the time?
How did people make money? 8 out of 10 worked in countryside 8 out of 10 worked in countryside Subsistence farming Subsistence farming Cottage industries - factories rarely employed more than 50 people Cottage industries - factories rarely employed more than 50 people Handmade – buttons, needles, cloth, bricks, pottery, bread etc. Handmade – buttons, needles, cloth, bricks, pottery, bread etc. Developing towns – Liverpool, Developing towns – Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow How many objects do you have about you or can you see in the room that are handmade? Welsh spinsters
Capitalist/Market Economy Characteristics: Characteristics: Competition Competition Free Enterprise Free Enterprise No or little government regulation No or little government regulation Choices Choices
How ‘Great’ was Britain? British empire growing – Canada, West Indies, Africa, India & America British empire growing – Canada, West Indies, Africa, India & America Imported goods from plantations, e.g. cotton, tobacco & sugar Imported goods from plantations, e.g. cotton, tobacco & sugar Exported – cloth, pottery, metal goods Exported – cloth, pottery, metal goods
Pretend you are a foreign ambassador, sent on a trip to Britain by a foreign king. You must prepare a report on Britain/London for your king back home. Remember not to be too complimentary otherwise your king may get jealous! Include references to population, government, health, transport, industry and empire. Your task
A factory owner has asked you to make a 60 second commercial emphasising the positive aspects of life in Britain in Try to include references to all the following features: Population Population Government Government Health Health Transport Transport Industry Industry Empire Empire You will also be creating a print advertisement for your factory You will also be creating a print advertisement for your factory
George I ( )
George II ( )
George III ( )