12 - The Mid-Victorian Boom

Question 1

Why did ideas from the Rothamstead Agricultural Research Foundation spread?

Answer 1

Due to graduates of the Royal Agricultural College of Cirencester coming onto the job market

Question 2

How much was spent on drainage?

Answer 2

£20 million on a 4million acre area

Question 3

What changes were brought about due to greater awareness of the market?

Answer 3

Farmers adapted to railways, new fertilisers such as guano used, Vale of Evesham adapted to provision of fruit and veg

Question 4

How much did prices of wheat and cheese grow since 1840?

Answer 4

Cheese 102%, wheat same price

Question 5

What did a rise in wages lead to?

Answer 5

A rise in demand

Question 6

How much did farming output increase by?

Answer 6

20-50%

Question 7

What were the main weaknesses of agriculture during the mid Victorian boom?

Answer 7

Labourer treatment bad, mainly small farms, poor returns on investment, wasted investment due to cheaper imports, landlords could still evict tenants, lack of secret ballot, farming largely dependent on weather

Question 8

What percentage of farms were suited to ‘new age’ farming?

Answer 8

Just 20% of 100 acre farms and 30% of 300 acre farms

Question 9

Upon investing £500k, how much did the Duke of Northumberland receive?

Answer 9

Just 2% extra

Question 10

Why were there poor harvests in the 1960s?

Answer 10

Heavy rainfall

Question 11

Why did economy, industry and trade grow?

Answer 11

No serious rivals, good banking system, geographical position, international trade, transport network, home market, supply of coal, cheap labour

Question 12

What were problems with economy, instructed and trade?

Answer 12

Lack of investment in new technology, decline in entrepreneurship, poor education, social divisions, social elite aloof

Question 13

What was the great exhibition?

Answer 13

A massive building in London demonstrating the success of British industry

Question 14

In regard to property, what did every major city have by the 1860s?

Answer 14

Housing projects and developments

Question 15

What happened to wages and prices?

Answer 15

Prices rose steadily. Real wages grew, as did investment and production

Question 16

Where and when was gold discovered?

Answer 16

California 1848 and Australia 1852

Question 17

What did British found gold result in?

Answer 17

Went to Bank of England therefore cut interest rates and increased lending. Overseas gold increased demand for British goods

Question 18

How did the exports grow?

Answer 18

1845 worth £53 million, 1857 worth £122 million, 1860 worth £136 million - continued growth into 60s

Question 19

Why were railways significant?

Answer 19

Abroad, Britain crucial in developing railways - in 1860s, Brassey had railways being built in 5 continents. 1846-68, 20-25% of trade in railways was British

Question 20

What were the causes of the mid Victorian boom?

Answer 20

Work of Peel, work of Gladstone, railways, stable financial situation, new inventions, lack of rivals, empire, population, construction

Question 21

What were Gladstone’s principles?

Answer 21

Administration of money was a sacred trust, economy was a real virtue, to take as little of the taxpayer’s money as possible

Question 22

What did the 1950-51 Caird Survey Reveal?

Answer 22

Cases of husbandry, some areas of pioneering work

Question 23

When did Gladstone get put on the board of trade?

Answer 23

1842

Question 24

When and why did Gladstone resign?

Answer 24

1845 over Maynooth Grant

Question 25

When was Gladstone back in politics?

Answer 25

1852, appointed chancellor of the exchequer by Aberdeen

Question 26

When did Gladstone serve as chancellor of the exchequer?

Answer 26

1852-65

Question 27

How many goods did Gladstone reduce duties on 1852-55?

Answer 27

200

Question 28

What did Gladstone introduce on inherited wealth?

Answer 28

Scales of death duties

Question 29

What did Gladstone and Cobden achieve with France?

Answer 29

Free Trade Treaty. France reduced duties on British coal and manufactured goods whilst Britain almost abolished duties on French imports and wines

Question 30

What did Gladstone do in 1860?

Answer 30

Abolished all but 48 duties

Question 31

He reduces duties on sugar and tea, as well as repealing duty on paper. Set up post office savings bank and a public accounts committee

Answer 31

:)

Question 32

How much did trade with France increase?

Answer 32

300%

Question 33

What were some negative impacts of Gladstone as Chancellor.

Answer 33

Little money left to spend on social problems, British arms spending severely decreased

Question 34

Why did Palmerston have a stable majority?

Answer 34

Due to events at Willis’ Rooks in 1859

Question 35

Why was Palmerston so dominant?

Answer 35

Credit for Crimean War, stable majority, no controversial legislation 1859-65, accepted GRA but didn’t want further reform, patriotic foreign policy

Question 36

What were Somme of Palmerston’s reforms?

Answer 36

Newcastle Commission on elementary education and the Revised Code 1862 to deal with findings, allowed Russell to introduce a reform bill

Question 37

Why did Palmerston want class cohesion?

Answer 37

To ensure peaceful transition to enlarged electorate

Question 38

How many people were employed in various sectors of the railway system in 1845?

Answer 38

250k

Question 39

How did railways effect demand for British coal and iron?

Answer 39

Soared. 300 tonnes of iron were required per every mile of railway track