Health and Housing

Question 1

6 reasons why Britain’s population increased?

Answer 1

Immigration
Industrialisation
Children
Housing
Health care
Agricultural revolution

Question 2

Why did immigration increase Britain’s population?

Answer 2

In the 1840s the Irish potato famine led to large scale immigration which increased the population of Britain.

Question 2

Why did industrialisation increase Britain’s population?

Answer 2

The availability of better paying factory jobs allowed couples to get married younger, have kids quicker and therefore have more children.

Question 3

How did children increase Britain’s population?

Answer 3

People were getting married younger, meaning they had more time to have larger families.

Question 4

How did housing increase Britain’s population?

Answer 4

Better housing and sanitation helped reduce deaths from diseases like cholera and typhus.

Question 5

How did health care increase Britain’s population?

Answer 5

Developments in health care, medicine and improved lifestyles reduced the death rate in Britain. People were living longer.

Question 6

How did the agricultural revolution increase Britain’s population?

Answer 6

The agricultural revolution meant that there was more food. This made food cheaper leading to better diets and longer life’s.

Question 7

What pushed people to living in the cities (3)?

Answer 7

The highland Scot’s were evicted from their homes during the highland clearances so they moved to cities for work.
Rural workers had to move to cities when the agricultural revolution pushed them out of their jobs to technology.
Many Irish moved to cities after fleeing poverty and starvation during the potato famine.

Question 8

What pulled people to living in the cities (5)?

Answer 8

They provided more leisure, social opportunities; such as shopping, entertainment and there was more chance of finding a partner.
Despite the long hours and gruelling work, farmers only made enough to survive so they moved to the cities for better wages.
Living conditions were generally better in cities, renting a few rooms was seen as an improvement.
There was more employment opportunities for the whole family.
Moved to cities for work in growing factories, women could also make money by domestic services (cleaning).

Question 9

What were the 4 housing conditions in cities?

Answer 9

Quality of housing, lack of fresh water, pollution and waste disposal.

Question 10

The quality of housing before it improved.

Answer 10

Poor sanitation and unclean
Windows broken and smashes
No windows= bad ventilation= damp= mould (black)
Cheap, poor quality building materials and furniture

Question 11

The pollution (as a housing condition) before it improved.

Answer 11

Smoke and smog from growing factories
Huge amounts of coal being burned
No restrictions on burning coal
Rivers polluted with waste

Question 12

The lack of fresh water before it improved.

Answer 12

Was being used for cleaning/ showering and washing clothes
Poor quality drinking water from rivers
Water was collected from water pumps which were shared by many families

Question 13

Waste disposal before it improved.

Answer 13

Growth in population= strain on public services
General waste, rubbish and human waste were all dumped in rivers
This lead to cholera being spread
Shared toilets were holes in the ground

Question 14

Why did disease spread so quickly?

Answer 14

Cuttlefish was used for toothpaste
Contaminated water- rivers were filled with rubbish
Overcrowding spread disease quickly
No indoor plumbing= no washing
Belief in miasma theory= Disease spread through bad smells
Bleached clothed with urine
Lack of medical knowledge
Air pollution from factories
Horse + carts= manure filled streets

Question 15

What were the 5 types of diseases?

Answer 15

Small pox- terrible disease, 3 out of 10 people died, people who survived left with scars
Tuberculosis- extremely deadly virus which attacked the lungs
Influenza- the common flu, numerous outbreaks, could be deadly due to poor living conditions
Typhus- extremely contagious fever spread by lice living in clothes and bedding
Cholera- disease spread by contaminated water which caused severe vomiting and diarrhoea which led to dehydration and death

Question 16

What did Chadwick’s 1842 report state?

Answer 16

Refuse removal and deal with the slums
An effective sewage system and clean running water in every home
A qualified medical officer in each area of the country

Question 17

What did Chadwick’s report change (7)?

Answer 17

Nuisance Removal Act (Scotland) 1855, gave police powers to clean or close properties that were a threat to public health.
The Artisans’ and Labourers’ Dwellings Improvement Act 1875- allowed councils to demolish old slum housing
By the end of the 19th century councils began to buy land to build better quality housing for fairer rents
Rows of tenement housing were built that were better quality and more spacious
Houses had to be connected to a sewer system
Homes were built with their own water supply and toilet
By 1900 gas lighting and some electricity was appearing in homes
Kitchen ranges replaced fire pits

Question 18

What was Johns Snow discovery?

Answer 18

The provision of clean drinking water was the key to cut down disease in Britain

Question 19

When was the first public health act?

Answer 19

1848

Question 20

What did the public health act 1848 state?

Answer 20

Gave local authorities the power to enforce rules:
Ensure all new homes had proper drainage and toilets
House owners/landlords must link drains to sewers
Landlords must provide clean water
Rubbish bin collections were to be organised and paid for by local taxes

Question 21

When was the smallpox vaccine introduced and what did it do?

Answer 21

1853, it was a huge medical advancement and it saved countless lives.

Question 22

When was the second public act and what did it state?

Answer 22

1875, it was compulsory to provide clean water, proper sewage and drainage systems and appoint a medical officer of health in each area

Question 23

What other improvements were there?

Answer 23

More medical knowledge and less overcrowding