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Britain 1800 - 1914 Change and Stability
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CHANGES 1 New farming and animal husbandry techniques New manufacturing methods Growth in use of machinery in factories Urbanisation Growth of industries and employment Growth of towns New social classes Wealthy business owners Huge industrial workforce
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Popular political movements People able to voice their grievances Change in political system More representative of population Greater protection of interest Social Reforms Change in patterns of education Free basic education Greater access to tertiary education Increased prosperity Increased leisure time/recreational activities
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SIGNFICANCE Changes are multifaceted Changes amount to an economic revolution Changes included agricultural and industrial revolutions Emphasised a break with tradition Change was occurring at an ever increasing pace – greater than previously experienced
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HISTORICAL QUESTIONS Did change contribute to stability? Did stability set limits to change? Were the changes superficial or fundamental? Who or what caused the changes? What did people at the time think was happening?
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New farming and animal husbandry techniques Seed drill – more precise sowing Horse drawn hoe – easier for weeding and crop cultivation New types of crops – turnips, clover – led to improved soil quality Selective breeding of stock – led to increased meat, milk and fleece yields Enclosure Act
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FARMING CHANGES Significant population increases led to greater demand for farm products Better for wealthier, larger landholders Conditions worsened for the poorer, smaller rural population Mechanisation led to shift in labour supply from rural agricultural to urban industrial
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New manufacturing methods Growth in use of machinery in factories Technical innovations increased output Hargreaves’ Spinning Jenny Arkwright’s water frame Crompton’s mule Steam power allowed mining, cotton and iron industries to expand Improvement in iron & steel – use of coke instead of charcoal – lowered cost and increased output Development of the factory – hired workforce, power driven machinery, large standardised output Improved transportation – roads, canals, steam trains, steamships led to increased trade within Britain and for export
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Urbanisation Growth of industries, employment, towns Factory based instead of cottage based Powered machines instead of hand tools Located near raw materials Concentration of population near workplaces – urbanisation
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New social classes Wealthy business owners Huge industrial workforce Ownership and control concentrated in the hands of a few - capitalist class Middle class benefited the most Factory owners and managers Office and skilled workers Small business owners Reduction in status of workers – hired help – 2 million factory workers in 1850
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Popular political movements People able to voice their grievances Better educated and greater awareness Change in thinking about custom and tradition Change in political system More people given the vote Fairer representation in government Decline in the crown’s power over ministers Increased importance for the lower house – House of Commons – abolition of restrictions for candidates Organisation of political parties More frequent elections Greater protection of interest
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Social Reforms Education Act 1870 Free compulsory basic education Factory Acts regulated hours and conditions of work Municipal Corporations Act town councils Repeal of laws prohibiting trade unions 1848 Act to protect public health Water supply; sanitation; housing standards
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Increased prosperity The Victorian Era – 1837 – 1901 Period of increased prosperity Increased foreign trade Improvements in mechanisation Better transport Gas lighting Drains and sewers Understanding of how disease spreads Improved education levels Mass media helped develop active political moves Changes were not equally shared – some benefitted others were worse off
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Old Age Pensions Act 1908 Trade Disputes Act 1906 Insurance Act 1911 Trade Boards – minimum wages and labour exchanges 1909 Increased trade union membership Strikes – mining and transport industries Socialism – intellectuals and working class politicians
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Increased leisure time/recreational activities Increase in voluntary associations Self help societies – Literary and Mechanics’ Institutes Salvation Army Travel, sport, hobbies, family outings
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