Four. Social Developments Flashcards
Industrialisation caused the middle classes to emerge, how much of the population did they make up by 1800?
25% of the population was middle class by 1800.
Why did Industrialisation cause a Middle Class to emerge?
Industrialisation brought extensive opportunities for men to invest and grow new businesses and increase their wealth. Many started to question the wealth and privileges of the old order.
Why were the changes in Class Structure less evident in the countryside than the urban areas?
Landowning classes controlled most political, economic and social activity in the district. Below the landowning classes was the tenant farmers, and below them were the Yeoman class (small independent farmers, victims of enclosure).
What happened to the Agricultural Labourers (Yeoman class)?
Became resentful of landowning class and tenant farmers, resented their high rent and low pay.
How did Industrialisation change the working conditions?
Factories were built for machines, not men and there were no health and safety regulations. People worked long hours and there was no allowance for sickness. There was a fire risk as early machines had wooden frames.
What were the cotton mills like?
Had a humid temperature which was necessary which led to lung infections.
How much of the workforce was children?
20%
What were the wages of the factories like compared to the domestic system?
Higher. This helped people cope with the tougher working conditions. Stastics available indicate that the industrial wages rose however they are incomplete.
What were the dates of the bad harvests?
1795-76 and 1799-1800 and then 1809-1811.
What were the dates of the Napoleonic Wars?
1793-1802 and then 1803-1815.
What effect did War in 1793 have on the Standard of Living?
Stopped the increase in the standard of life. There were food shortages, price rises and an unsteady job market which caused unrest.
What was the price of grain in 1812?
£6.30. This made bread very expensive.
What were the Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800?
Made all associations of working men illegal. This made it clear that the establishment supported capitalist interest, rather than those of the working population.
