Economic developments

Question 1

Key Chronology

Answer 1

1780’s Mechanisation of spinning process in cotton industry established

1784 Henry Cort invented a new process for smelting iron

1789 Edward Cartwright invented the Power Loom

1798 Malthus’ Principle of Population published

1801 First offical Census of the population

Question 2

When was rapid industrialisation generally accepted ?

Answer 2

around 1780

Question 3

what did Historian Ronald Hartwell state about the industrial revolution

Answer 3

1760-1830 is regarded as the ‘most acceptable revolutionary period’ and that 1780 marks the beginning of a sharp upward production in industrial production

Question 4

How much industrial growth was there in the 1780s

Answer 4

increased to 3 to 4 percent from the long term level of 2 percent which suggests the 1780s was a crucial turning point

Question 5

what industries saw the most rapid improvements ?

Answer 5

coal
cotton
iron

Question 6

What were the likely preconditions for economic growth ?

Answer 6

availability of capital 
development of trade 
access to raw materials 
improvements in agriculture 
political stability 
scientific and technological innovation 
within Britain the free movement of people and goods

Question 7

what increased growth in trade ?

Answer 7

shipbuilding, exploration,discovery of new overseas markets and colonisation had all brought a growth in trade

Question 8

what was the East India Company ?

Answer 8

the largest and most influential english trading company, formed in 1600. It enjoyed a trade monopoly in India and in the Far East

Question 9

Why was an increasing population significant ?

Answer 9

larger work force available and also led to an increased demand for food, clothing, textiles at low prices, thus stimulating agricultural output.

Question 10

when was the first population census ?

Answer 10

1801

Question 11

why was this done ?

Answer 11

partly done to settle conflicting views about whether or not the population was growing, and partly, if it was increasing to address the anxiety about sustainability.

Question 12

Who commented on the debate?

Answer 12

Dr Richard price
Thomas Malthus
Arthur Young

Question 13

what did Dr Richard price say ?

Answer 13

argued that Britain was weak and that was causing a decline in the population

Question 14

what did Thomas Malthus say ?

Answer 14

Believed population was growing, and that it would outstrip rate of production of food and cause massive social problems

Question 15

What did Arthur Young say ?

Answer 15

saw the population was increasing but saw a healthy economy in the ‘flourishing state of our agriculture, our manufacturers, commerce and general wealth.

Question 16

what was the result of the first official census ?

Answer 16

1801 had the population 10.9 million, but by 1812 had risen to 12.6 million

Question 17

why was there an increase in birth rate and fall in death rate ?

Answer 17

agricultural improvements meant an increase in food production, better quality food and low prices, which in turn led to rising of living standards, better health,fewer infant deaths and increased longevity.

industrialisation created more jobs, and therefore young men could afford to live independently, marry and have children earlier.

Question 18

What factors prompted a change in the cotton industry ?

Answer 18

increased amount of imported raw cotton; as population rose there an increasing demand for clothing and textiles.
technological innovations and the subsequent reorganisation of the the labour force helped revolutionise the industry.

Question 19

name some of the important technological innovations

Answer 19

Arkwrights water frame in 1769 heralded the start of the factory system

Samuel Crompton’s ‘Spinning Mule’, a cross between the water frame and Hargreaves ‘Spinning Jenny’, produced exceptionally high quality yarn that was strong and fine.

Question 20

what did the success of spinning mean for the weaving process ?

Answer 20

created a massive inbalance, left weaving in tatters and could not function effectively whilst this unbalance was in place

Question 21

who changed that?

Answer 21

Edmund Cartwright creation of the ‘Power Loom’ which was operated by steam power. Industrialisation had entered a new phase, and by 1820 the cotton industry was fully mechanised and balance set between spinning and weaving.

Question 22

how did demand for pig iron increase ?

Answer 22

68,000 tons 1788 to 250,000 tons 1804.

Question 23

who was John Wilkinson ?

Answer 23

entrepreneurial iron master, build up large-scale iron works to meet the increasing demands of industrialisation

Question 24

why was coal so important ??

Answer 24

Growth of cotton and iron depended on coal, coal replaced wood as a fuel for smelting iron and was mined in huge quantities. Coal became essential to the progress of industrialisation as it provided cheap fuel for any manufacturing process.

Question 25

how was transport important in facilitating industrial growth?

Answer 25

construction of a network of canals able to help carry heavy and bulky goods more cheaply and easily than by road or river. Canals facilitated the process of industrialisation at its most crucial period.

Question 26

negatives of canals

Answer 26

difficult and expensive to construct, could only follow limited routes, froze up in winter and were slow to operate.

Question 27

who was James Watt

Answer 27

invented a steam engine with a separate condensor in collobaration with matthew boulton, Birmingham businessman. Revolutionised steam power. Later invention of the rotory motion 1781 allowed steam power to be used more effectively.

Question 28

Where were watts steam engines used?

Answer 28

used extensively in mines, coal mines, ironworks, breweries, and distilleries and in the engineering of canals. Steam power completely altered the old patterns of life

Question 29

What did historian C.P Hill say about steam power ?

Answer 29

‘extended the range of mans economic activities’

Question 30

What was the condition of agriculture

Answer 30

By 1800 percentage had fallen to less than half the labor force, for the first time more people employed in industry than farming.

production levels in agriculture were rising one farmer producing enough to feed 2.5 people compared to 1.7 century earlier.

Question 31

What was enclosure ?

Answer 31

the new system of dividing agricultural land into compact fields closed in by fences, hedges, or walls; it replaced the open-field system, where the land was divided into strips