Continuing industrialisation 1812-32

Question 1

What does McCord say about agricultural improvement at this time?

Answer 1

He says that there was improvement but the process was patchy

Question 2

Which area best brought in new farming techniques according to McCord?

Answer 2

The North East of England

Question 3

How does McCord describe Scottish agriculture at this time?

Answer 3

He says that there was rapid improvement to efficiency in the lowlands but in the north and west many farms struggled to achieve subsistence levels

Question 4

What does McCord say about agriculture in the nations by 1815?

Answer 4

Scotland, Wales and Ireland possessed large areas untouched by agricultural improvement

Question 5

Why was agricultural progress at this time so important?

Answer 5

It was crucial in feeding the growing population and therefore facilitating industrial and commercial expansion

Question 6

What happened to the British economy in the early 19th century?

Answer 6

It continued to flourish despite the long and costly wars with France

Question 7

What has caused disagreement among historians about whether growth slowed or increased at the same rate during this period?

Answer 7

• Change occured slowly in some industries and rapidly in others
• Industrialisation was regional rather than national and so some areas developed quicker than others

Question 8

What is the best way of measuring the growth of the British economy at this time?

Answer 8

By looking at production figures for the three main industries; cotton, iron and coal

Question 9

Why is coal production seen as an especially good marker for the extent of industrial growth?

Answer 9

Because it was the main source of energy for industry

Question 10

How much did coal production rise between 1815-30?

Answer 10

It went from 16 million to just under 30 million tons

Question 11

How much of the coal produced was used in the iron industry?

Answer 11

About half

Question 12

What happened to the production of pig iron between 1815-30?

Answer 12

Most figures suggest it doubled

Question 13

Give a figure that indicates how methods of production in the iron industry became more productive

Answer 13

In 1800 it took 8 tons of coal to produce 1 ton of pig iron, but by 1830 this figure was down to 3.5

Question 14

Give some figures to show the growth of the cotton industry between 1815-30

Answer 14

Imports of raw cotton increased two or threefold and the export of manufactured cotton also increased

Question 15

What do Williams and Ramsden says had happened to the cotton industry by the 1830s?

Answer 15

• 30% of the industry workforce was engaged in the cotton industry
• 70% of British exports were textiles
• Raw cotton accounted for 1/5 of Britain’s exports

Question 16

What was a key indicator of the growth of the export market at this time?

Answer 16

The development of the shipbuilding industry

Question 17

Describe the state of shipping at this point?

Answer 17

It was still under sail, with the first steam powered ship coming in 1838

Question 18

Give a statistic to indicate the growth of the shipbuilding industry

Answer 18

In 1820, the tonnage of ships built and registered in Britain was 66,700 - by 1830 this had increased to 75,500

Question 19

What aided the overall increase in production at this time?

Answer 19

The continuing development of the steam industry

Question 20

Give a statistic the indicate the development of steam power at this time?

Answer 20

More factories were now powered by steam power than water power

Question 21

Why were pottery and china in increasing demand in the domestic market at this time?

Answer 21

Because the new expanding middle classes had disposable income and new homes on the outskirts of towns to furnish

Question 22

What was this period the start of the era of?

Answer 22

Consumerism - the trend of wanting to acquire more goods and services

Question 23

What were the fast growing industries, services and technologies mainly associated with by 1832?

Answer 23

The early development of the railway

Question 24

Explain the impact steam power had on industrialisation at this time

Answer 24

• It meant that industrialisation spread to other previously untouched parts of the country
• More hand operated industries became mechanised
• Productivity increased in existing industries

Question 25

Why was the impact of steam power not comprehensive by 1832?

Answer 25

Because these developments had not yet reached their full industrial or economic potential

Question 26

What is indisputable about industrialisation no matter what facts and figures we look at?

Answer 26

That it was a continuous process for around 100 years from around 1780

Question 27

What happened to trade following the end of the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer 27

Putting aside market fluctuations, it increased rapidly following the lifting of sanctions

Question 28

What gave a boost to trade in the 1820s?

Answer 28

Huskisson’s free trade measures

Question 29

What else helped carry the industrialisation process forward?

Answer 29

Population growth

Question 30

Give some statistics to indicate how population was growing exponentially at this time

Answer 30

In 1811 it was 12 million, in 1821 it was 14 million, in 1831 it was 16.3 million

Question 31

How did industrial and rural areas compare at this time in terms of population growth?

Answer 31

The rate of growth was higher in industrial areas

Question 32

Why was population growth higher in industrial areas?

Answer 32

People migrated to industrial towns for work and there was earlier marriage and births in the crowded industrial areas

Question 33

What kind of new thoughts did industrialisation bring about at this time?

Answer 33

• It emphasised the distinction between the middle class and the industrial workforce
• New social groupings emerged
• Working class discontent continued