T4: What impact did changes to the cloth industry have on the economy? Flashcards
(32 cards)
the cloth industry had been central to the British economy since…
medieval times
was the cloth trade new?
no - existed since medieval times but expanded in 17th century
why did the putting out system flourish in the first half of the 17th century?
growing population = more labour
how did London’s exportation of textiles change in this period?
London exporting textiles worth £600,000 in 1560s and £1.5 million in 1660s
why did London’s exportation of textiles change in this period?
boom in international markets
what was the domestic system also known as?
the putting-out system
what was the domestic system?
making cloth from home, diff family members would do diff steps- materials dropped off and cloth picked up by merchants
why was the putting out system beneficial to families?
- side hustle- supplemented main income
- women could work and care for children
- tax free
when was the putting-out system well -established by?
1615 - shown by government survey of the cloth industry
was the domestic system new?
no, but increased in this period
what new draperies did people find fashionable?
silk, cotton, linen
which areas flourished at making new draperies?
areas with skilled Dutch immigrants e.g. Colchester, Norwich
what type of new drapery did Dutch immigrants introduce in East Anglia?
worsted draperies
what was good about worsted draperies?
versatile, cheap - appealed to wider market on the continent
what area was particularly successful with new draperies?
East Anglia
what happened to tradition cloth centres that did not have skill for new draperies?
cloth industry fell into decline
was the success that came from new draperies widespread?
no, mainly East Anglia
were new draperies long-lasting?
yes - made in factories until 19th/20th centuries
why might changes to the cloth industry not be that significant?
continuation in that cloth industry remains key employer and there is a focus on exports
in what ways are new draperies significant?
- helps to revive British textiles
- long-lasting
- transformative - new cloth and new skill
what new techniques did the Dutch use?
combining and weaving rather than carding
also brought the frame knitting machine
what had been the traditional technique used in the British cloth industry?
carding
statistic for textiles industry in Colchester
proportion of people employed in textiles industry doubled across the period
how many immigrants were working in the cloth industry in England by 1685?
13,000
