8.2 Flashcards
Briefly describe life for 80% of Britain’s before 1750
Around 80 percent of people lived and worked on small farms in rural areas
How was manufacturing described before 1750?
Manufacturing at this time employed few people and was small and localised.
How were tools powered before the industrial revolution?
Tools used in the manufacture of goods were basic and powered by people, animals or waterwheels that harnessed the power of fast-flowing rivers and streams.
Describe the state of Britain’s roads before the industrial revolution.
Roads linking villages were poor and most people travelled on foot or by horse. Most people didn’t travel far from the places they lived and worked.
What were people’s lives like health-wise before the industrial revolution?
People’s diets were inadequate, and the average life expectancy was short. Illness was common because of poor hygiene, bad or non-existent sewerage disposal systems, and polluted water supplies
How was British society structured? How much wealth did the richest 1% control?
British society was divided into strict social classes according to wealth and position based on birth. The noble family only made up 1% of the population and controlled 39 percent of Britain’s wealth.
How did Britain’s population change between 1750 and 1900?
Britain’s population quadrupled from an estimated 6.5 million in 1750 to 32.5 million in 1900.
Describe the shift of the population in this period from 1750-1900.
The increase was mainly as a result of improved living conditions and declining death rates.
How did factories and textile mills change life?
The industrial revolution led to thousands of new factories being made. These factories relied on a large number of workers and machinery to manufacture massive quantities of goods in one place.
By 1850 what percentage of people lived in large cities and towns? Give examples.
Before the industrial revolution only 20% of people lived in cities. By 1850, 80% of people in Britain lived in a major city or town
What new power sources were developed? How did this change life?
The development of steam power and electricity transformed the manufacturing, agricultural transport, and communications industries. This had a major impact on people’s everyday lives.
What transport changes occurred?
Towns got linked by new canals, roads and railway lines. New modes of transport were invented to replace horse-drawn carriages.
How did better travel change people’s habits?
People travelled more and lived less isolated lives
Who were the middle class? What was the impact of the middle class?
They included merchants and mid-level bureaucrats, as well as a few skilled laborers whose jobs had not been replaced by industrial machines. It was this class that drove the demand for mass-produced goods. They also drove the need for more schools, universities, and libraries.
There was a dramatic fall in population in the 1800’s, why could this have happened?
Bad hygiene and terrible living conditions would have caused the dramatic fall in population in the 1800s.
