The effects of industrialisation

Question 1

Why was industrialisation such a double edged sword in the early 19th century?

Answer 1

It brought economic growth, but also social turmoil and widespread unemployment

Question 2

What was the consequence of population growth and movement towards northern industrial towns socially?

Answer 2

The traditional habits and customs of small rural communities were disturbed

Question 3

What disturbed the tranquility of the countryside?

Answer 3

Noisy machinery

Question 4

What were the only two UK cities to have a poulation more than 100,000 in 1801?

Answer 4

Dublin and London

Question 5

List the countries that had a population greater than 100,000 by 1831

Answer 5

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London and, Dublin

Question 6

What different economic bases did Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow rely upon?

Answer 6

• Manchester - textile mills and factories
• Liverpool - Commercial traffic through its docks
• Glasgow - textiles, shipbuilding and engineering industries, as well as being a commercial port

Question 7

Describe migration at this time

Answer 7

Jobless unskilled labourers would move away from rural areas. Poverty-stricken, landless Irish peasants would also arrive in search of a better life

Question 8

What was Eric Hobsbawn’s view on urbanisation?

Answer 8

He denounced its impact on the labouring classes and the lack of welfare that accompanied it. Hours were so long and wages so low that most factory workers had no life beyond the factory and their squalid tenement homes

Question 9

What made the problems caused by industrialisation even worse?

Answer 9

The government’s failure to recognise and address them

Question 10

What was the problem with the towns expanding so quickly?

Answer 10

When problems of public health or maintaining social order arose there were no mechanisms in place to deal with them

Question 11

What was the social impact of population growth and urbanisation?

Answer 11

There was a crowding of large numbers of people in towns and cities The wealthy middle classes segregated themselves in large houses in leafy suburbs. Those in the middling ranks lived in respectable terraced houses not far from the town, while the vast majority lived in cramped tenement dwellings

Question 12

Describe the poor living conditions endured by the labouring classes

Answer 12

There were often entire families housed in one room with extremely basic facilities, a limited water supply and primitive sanitation. The poor living conditions caused numerous health conditions and diseases to spread

Question 13

The absence of what contributed to further social problems?

Answer 13

Local government

Question 14

What were many old boroughs that had expanded into industrial towns still run by?

Answer 14

A mayor and corporation. These bodies had become largely corrupt and acted out of self interest rather than looking to make societal improvements. They would often commission the construction of grand buildings that came as little benefit to the poverty-stricken masses

Question 15

Who made up much of the industrial workforce?

Answer 15

Women and children

Question 16

Describe the poor working conditions at this time

Answer 16

• Enclosed in poorly ventilated factories
• 16 hour workdays
• 6 day work weeks
• Very little pay

Question 17

Why were women and children used so much in factories?

Answer 17

They were cheaper to pay and easier to control

Question 18

Describe the use of children?

Answer 18

Many orphan children were used and exploited. Child labour was not a new phenomenon and had existed for ages. The industrial revolution drew humanitarian attention to this crisis, encouraging a long campaign to improve their conditions

Question 19

Why was work in the factories so dangerous for children?

Answer 19

They were often used to clear jams in working machines, which came with a serious risk of injury

Question 20

A lack of what disadvantaged the lower classes further?

Answer 20

Education

Question 21

Describe the state of education at this time

Answer 21

There was no state provision for child schooling, as many in the middle and upper classes considered education to be dangerous amongst the poorer classes, as it had the potential to cause revolutionary thought. Others thought that elementary education was acceptable in order to educe the worst ignorance and teach children about the scriptures

Question 22

Describe sunday schools at this time

Answer 22

Most took place on a sunday afternoon, after the main act of worship in the morning. Religious instruction was given and reading of the bible was encouraged

Question 23

What happened to those who were unemployed, even if this was through no fault of their own?

Answer 23

They would face the prospect of endless poverty

Question 24

How was poverty tackled at this time?

Answer 24

• The system of poor relief was unable to cope with large scale urbanisation, the flood of unemployed farm labourers into towns and the high levels of unemployment amongst those who had been replaced by machines. Parishes tried to do what they could, but were often over-burdened with demand. The poor were therefore left to beg on the streets or turn to crime

Question 25

What does Christopher Hill think population growth prompted?

Answer 25

The migration of the British overseas and the extension of the empire

Question 26

What does Edward Royle think caused the increase in migration after 1815?

Answer 26

The peace at the end of the Napoleonic wars and the subsequent renewed depression

Question 27

What happened to population growth in 1820?

Answer 27

There was a lull in growth early in the decade, with numbers rising again later in the decade

Question 28

What happened in 1832?

Answer 28

10,000 Scots emigrated, mostly to Canada - many went in the spirit of adventure with the hopes of finding a better life

Question 29

List the positive impacts of industrialisation at this time

Answer 29

• Greater wealth was created, which allowed a larger population to be sustained
• The middle classes prospered
• It arguably brought about a rise in living standards
• It facilitated the growth of trade unions

Question 30

What is the main historical debate surrounding this period of industrialisation?

Answer 30

The extent to which the population as a whole benefited and whether or not the living standards of a majority of working people improved or declined