Post 1850s Britain Flashcards
(21 cards)
Industrial revolution
Took place from 1750 to around the 1850’s
New manufacturing processes
Became worlds leading commercial nation – controlling a
global trading empire
What were the 7 changes to society in post 1850s
- Urbanisation
- Regularity of wages increased
- Establishment of police force
- Increasingly literate society
- Technological advancements
- Newspapers and media sources available
- Saturday half day - shorter working week
Social class - Post 1850
Lower class citizens - worked 12 hour days, with only Sundays off, so sport and leisure was still limited to Holy days. But due to factory acts, working hours were reduced to 57 hours per week.
Upper class citizens – still far more opportunities for leisure activities. They benefitted even more so from the development of the railways – so they could travel further
Emergence of middle class
Professionals, factory owners and managers who did not own big estates or weren’t born in aristocracy or money.
MC had increasingly more time and money to be involved in sports activities and a desire to imitate the UC.
Their tastes and manners influenced the more respectable nature of sports and pastimes.
They were important in developing sports – many went to public school. Helped influence the development of rules and governing bodies (E.g. Football & Rugby)
Amateurism and professionalism
Amateurs were not paid – so it suited the middle and upper class – they took part for enjoyment or to test themselves, not for financial gain.
Professionals were working class / lower class and were paid – Cricket/Football
Some sports like football and rugby the players got broken-time
payments, where amateurs (working men) were compensated
for missing work in order to play
Cricket post 1850s
Amateurs and professionals played on the same team; different changing rooms, and roles.
LC Bowlers and clean kit.
MC – used to hire professionals to bowl and field so the ‘gentleman’ could practise their batting. Resulted in annual match of Gentleman vs Players (lower class paid to play).Two sets of players used different facilities and not expected to mix after
Availability of transport - post 1850s
Transport, notably the railways, was hugely significant in the
emergence and evolution of all sports so sports could now be regular and regional this meant:
Teams could travel further to play matches
Spectators could travel to watch
Agreed rules were needed
League, cups and competitions were established
Regional, national and international competitions
Gender - post 1850s
Status of women in society began to change.
Assumption to marry slowly disappeared – lack of men, and high mortality rates in boys vs girls. Large number of men in armed forces and at war. Men were also more likely to emigrate than women.
Taunton Royal Commission Report in 1868 on Schooling, led to Female education pioneers emerging. Enquiry commission lead by Lord Taunton - the establishment of a national system of secondary education was recommended – including women.
Education - post 1850
Increasingly literate society
Education act (1870) – lead to a national state educations system.
Development of public schools (will be covered in more detail later on) for upper class and some middle class.
Increased media coverage and literacy – sporting press developed that the working class were keen to read
Availability of time - post 1850
Initially 72 hour weeks but eventually moved to 57 hours.
Saturday became a half day
Sports more regular.
Regular structure to the working week so less work = more energy for sport.
Availability of money - post 1850s
Depended on your social class
More regular wages – factory time vs seasonal time
Factory workers / working class began to be able to afford more (e.g. gate money to go and watch matches).
Middle class families could again afford slightly more (e.g. a tennis set).
Upper class - continued with their country sports (hunting, shooting, fishing).
Law and Order - post 1850s
Police forced established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel
Reflected the ‘civilising process’ of society – more arrests
Sports became more controlled / less violent / less wagering.
RSPCA developed 1824 – helped prohibit acts of cruelty to animals.
More rules evident in most sports.
Sports for women
Lawn tennis
Cycling
Both non violent non dangerous and lady like
19th century public schools
Only available initially to upper and middle class boys due to the travel and tuition fees involved.
Public boarding schools – due to travel not open to all. E.g. Eton and Harrow.
Schools became the ideal place to make the boys into gentleman and develop their ethics
What were 19th century public schools like
Good facilities and strongly involved in the development, organisation and promotion of sport.
Initially organised sport was not a feature – middle of 19th century it became a feature when bullying and brutality started to take place (older kids on younger ones).
Some of the activities / sports that were developed are similar to those we know today.
House systems created healthy competition
What is meant by the cult of athleticism
Cult’ – referred to the obsession / growing craze of playing sport.
Athleticism – referred to a combination of physical endeavour (trying hard) with moral integrity (being honourable, truthful, sportsmanship).
Leadership, fair play, teamwork, courage, respect
Impact of the ‘cult’
Large amounts of time devoted to sport in schools in order to develop it
Developed leagues (e.g. house system created)
Ex-School boys spread the ‘cult’ (through old boys network)
Impact of the ‘athleticism’
Encouraged effort over winning
Encouraged the development of codified sport;
- With rules and NGB’s (National Governing Bodies)
Encouraged to play with fair play and sportsmanship
Why were 19th Century Public schools so influential in promoting
and organising sport?
House structure within the schools – in all sports – allowed to fixtures and competitions.
Rules – students developed rules, structure and helped in the development of NGB’s.
Money – for facilities, equipment, coaching.
Headteachers – well respected and influential so society followed their ideas.
Time on sport – boarding schools, valuable, character building.
Ex pupils – ‘Old Boys’ – promoted their games and ethics through a network
Old boys network
The ‘Old Boys’ were ex public school boys who helped to spread sport through their network.
Went on into successful lines of jobs that gave them influence:
Jobs of old boys and how they spread sport
University (e.g. Oxbridge) – sport was popular at them and further developed them.
Army officers – spread sport/games internationally through the empire.
Industrialists – owned factories and wanted to create their own teams.
Politicians – helped establish funding, all went overseas so spread sport.
Clergy/priest – joined the church / became missionaries who spread sport/games through the empire.
Parents – influenced their children – sent to same schools.
Teachers – promoted the importance of sport and teaching others.
