What is the standard of living debate? Flashcards
1
Q
What is standard of living?
A
a measure indicating the relative wealth and comfort in which people live
2
Q
What is the optimist view?
A
- standard of living increased in Britain as a result of the IR
3
Q
Who are optimist historians?
A
J.H. Clapham
T.S. Ashton
4
Q
What is the evidence for the optimist view?
A
- real wages increased
- higher wages paid in factories
- new lanark mills
- amount and variety of food increased
- historians argued that poor conditions were outweighed by the benefits of the IR
- the availability of support (Friendly Socities and Poor Relief)
5
Q
What are the New Lanark Mills?
A
- owned by David Dale and then Robert Owen
- both treated workers well by today’s standard
- many of children were clothed, fed and taught how to read and write
6
Q
What is the pessimist view?
A
standard of living deteriorated as a result of the IR
7
Q
Who is a pessimist historian?
A
E.J. Hobsbawm
8
Q
What is the evidence for the pessimist view?
A
- 20% of workforce were children
- shifts as long as 12 hours
- no sick pay
- dangerous working conditions; lung infection in cotton mills
- income tax and inflation = couldn’t even afford bread
- agriculture polarised by enclosure
9
Q
When did Britain have a series of bad harvests?
A
1795-1797
