History As industrialization of Britain Flashcards
who created coke and in what year
1709
Abraham Darby developed coke: coal by-product, used for melting iron
who created coal powered steam engine and in what year
1712
Thomas Newcomen invented coal-powered steam engine
- Used for pumping water out of mines
Who invented the flying shuttle and in which year
1733
John Kay invented the Flying Shuttle
- Widespread use by late 1760s
What happens in 1739
Start of war with Spain
what was the enclosure movement and what year
1750-1800
Enclosure Movement — combining small strips of land into larger units (100+ acres)
Who build the first canal and when
Duke of Bridge water built 1st long-distance (14km) canal in 1761
- Worsley coal mines → Manchester
what happened in parliament between 1759 → 1774;
52 Acts of Parliament passed permitting canal construction
1800; 3000+km of canals
Old Poor Law
- Known as the ‘Speenhamland System’
- Funded by landowners through ‘Poor Rate’
- Aid based on family size and bread price
- Criticized for discouraging job-seeking
- Struggled with mass unemployment (1829-32)
- Led to push for poor law reform
Great Reform Act what year and success and failures
1832 -
Act: Great Reform Act passed Effects:
Expanded voting rights to more middle-class men Redistributed parliamentary seats to reflect population changes
Reduced corruption in elections
Began the process of democratizing British politics
Excluded working-class men and all women from voting rights, leading to further reform movements
Combination Laws what year and what it was
1799 Act: Combination Laws passed Effects:
Banned trade unions and workers’ associations Made it illegal for workers to collectively bargain for better wages or conditions Suppressed workers’ rights and strengthened employers’ control Led to underground union activity and increased social tensions
Corn Laws when was it passed
- Passed in 1815, repealed in 1846
- Kept domestic corn prices high
- Prevented cheap corn imports
- Benefited landed aristocracy
- Increased food prices for working class
- Caused political tension
- Repeal marked shift to free trade
Cooperative Societies what it is effects and when it started
First shop: 1844, Rochdale, Lancashire
Founders: 22 working class people, mostly skilled workmen
Influence: Robert Owen’s socialist ideas
Operations: Sold food, clothing, and necessities Reasonable prices, surplus income paid back to members
Run democratically Women could be members & vote Neutral to religion & politics Significance: Played a part in formation of the Labour Party
Combinations what are they and when did it first start
Composition: Groups of skilled workers
Functions:
Provided insurance benefits to members
Increased bargaining power against employers Restricted entry to professions
Characteristics: Conservative, defensive, excluded unskilled workers
Legal status:
Made illegal by Combination Laws of 1799
Legalized in 1824 after Peterloo Modified in 1825 (could only negotiate wages/hours)
Notable events:
Failed 1818 attempt at national coordination Tolpuddle martyrs of 1834 (George Loveless prosecuted)
Achievements: Little, due to focus on 1832 reforms and Chartism
What where the Chartists when was it formed and who by and its causes and there demands
Formed in: 1838 by Francis Place and William Lovett
Causes: Poor harvests leading to high bread prices Failures of Great Reform Act and trade unions Reforms not benefiting working classes Key document: “People’s Charter”
Demands: Universal manhood suffrage
No property qualifications for MPs
Annual parliaments and elections
Equal representation (proportional to population) Payment for MPs Secret ballot
Important publication: Northern Star (pro-Chartist newspaper)
What where the Chartists main period of activity and there peaceful actions
Main periods of activity: 1838-30, 1842, 1848-89
Actions: Petitions to parliament (often with million+ signatures)
Outcome: Petitions ignored each time
what where the Chartists Achievements and any notable events
Newport Rising (1839): Ironworkers marched on Newport 12 killed by police Chartist organizer arrested and banished to Australia Final London demonstration (1848): Aimed to pressure Parliament to adopt the Charter Meeting banned, few protesters came Feargus O’Connor presented petition alone, unsuccessful Reasons for failure: Poor organization, gradual improvement of condition
Why and what year was the first factory act past
1833 - Factory Act
Act: Factory Act passed Reasons for passage:
- Growing public concern over child labor conditions
- Pressure from reformers and some industrialists for regulation
- Need to address health and education of future workforce
what was the effects of the first factory act
1833
Effects:
- Limited working hours for children in textile mills
- Prohibited employment of children under 9 in textile factories
- Mandated two hours of education per day for child workers
- Introduced factory inspectors, though initially few in number
- Improved working conditions, but enforcement was often weak
What year was the Municipal Corporations Act passed and reasons
1835
Act: Municipal Corporations Act passed Reasons for passage:
- Need to reform corrupt and inefficient local government systems
- Pressure from growing urban populations for better representation
- Desire to standardize local governance across the country
what year and why was the the new poor law passed
1834 - New Poor Law
Act: New Poor Law established Reasons for passage:
- Rising costs of poor relief under old system
- Belief that old system encouraged dependency and idleness
- Desire to make relief less attractive and encourage self-reliance
what where the effects of the new poor law
1834
- Created a system of workhouses for the poor
- Aimed to reduce costs of poor relief and discourage dependency
- Harsh conditions in workhouses designed to deter all but the most desperate
- Led to widespread resentment and social unrest
- Disproportionately affected women, children, and the elderly
What where the effects of the Municipal Corporations Act
1835
Reformed local government in England and Wales
Established elected town councils in boroughs
Improved urban administration and reduced corruption
Allowed for local taxation to fund improvements
Increased civic participation in local affairs
