Chapter 3 - Economic developments Flashcards
From what date is it generally accepted that rapid industrialisation occurred in the UK?
Around 1780
How did the type of industrial production develop during the industrial revolution?
From small-scale production of goods, often in domestic surroundings, to large scale, factory based production
Who coined the phrase ‘industrial revolution’ in 1884?
Arnold Toynbee
What did the annual growth of industrial output in Britain increase to from the long term level of 2% in the 1780s?
3-4%
What are two examples of goods which Britain was renowned for before the industrial revolution?
- Small metal goods from Birmingham
- Woollen cloth from Yorkshire
What was Cornwall famous for mining in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Tin
Which was the biggest market for British goods before the industrial revolution?
London, in part due to its large sea port
What was Britain renowned for before the industrial revolution in terms of industry?
The variety and quality of its manufacturing industries
When was the East India Company founded?
1600
When was the power loom invented?
1789
Who invented the power loom?
Edmund Cartwright
What did Henry Cort invent in 1784?
A new process for the smelting of iron
Who invented the Spinning Jenny?
James Hargreaves
What was the population of Britain in 1801?
10.9 million
What was the population of Britain in 1811?
12.6 million
What did the rise in population lead to in the early parts of the industrial revolution?
- Larger available labour force
- Increased demand for food, clothing, housing and other commodities
- Increased production of manufactured goods (especially textiles) at low prices
- Stimulated agricultural output
What did trade with the Empire make available during the early parts of the Industrial Revolution?
Capital available to borrow at low interest rates, which could be invested in existing industries or used to set up new enterprises
How did Britain’s geography help it during the early Industrial Revolution?
- Fast flowing streams could be used to generate water power
- Plentiful coal and iron ore
- Navigable rivers to go along with new canals
- Island nature stimulated trade by sea
How did Britain’s relatively free and democratic society help it during the early Industrial Revolution?
Mean that people and goods could move freely around the country, so little hindrance to new ventures
What was the view of Arthur Young in regards to the population?
That the population was increasing, but that a healthy economy still existed
What did Thomas Malthus predict in 1798?
That the growth in British population would outstrip food production and cause massive social problems
What were some explanations for the British population’s growth in the early 19th century?
- Agricultural improvements leading to a rise in food production
- Better quality food at lower prices raising living standards and leading to better health, lower infant mortality and increased longevity
- Industrialisation creating more jobs and meaning more young men could marry and have children earlier
Who was John Horrocks?
A textiles magnate who ran a successful spinning factory in the early 19th century using Samuel Crompton’s mule
What was John Horrocks responsible for introducing in 1803?
An all-metal version of the Power loom
What were the 5 towns?
Successful Staffordshire pottery towns which were amalgamated to form Stoke-on-Trent in 1910
What was the cottage industry (in textiles)?
Where yarn or cloth were produced in people’s homes using spinning wheels or hand looms
What were some drawbacks of the domestic system of the cotton industry for the workers themselves?
Homes had to be kept cold and dark for the machines, machines took up a lot of room, lost wages through illness, long hours, no guarantee of wages
What were some drawbacks of the domestic system of the cotton industry for the nation’s economy?
Slow, products lacked quality control, production limited, little chance of expansion
