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- Passed in 1815, repealed in 1846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
What year and reason was the Mines Act passed
1842
Act: Mines Act passed Reasons for passage:
Public outrage following publication of the Children’s Employment Commission report
Growing awareness of dangerous and inhumane conditions in mines
Pressure from reformers and some mine owners for regulation
What effects did the - Mines Act bring
1842
Prohibited employment of women and girls underground in mines
Banned boys under 10 from working in mines
Introduced mine inspectors, though initially few in number
Improved safety conditions in mines, but enforcement was often weak
Led to further reforms in mining industry
What was the effects of the new factory act
1844
Effects:
Limited working hours for women in factories to 12 hours per day
Improved safety regulations in factories
Required fencing of dangerous machinery
Expanded the system of factory inspectors
Gradually improved working conditions, though still far from ideal
What year and reason was the corn laws repealed
1846
Act: Corn Laws repealed Reasons for passage:
Pressure from industrialists and urban workers for cheaper food
Influence of free trade ideology
Irish Potato Famine highlighted need for cheaper grain imports
What was the effect of repealing the corn laws
1846
Ended protectionist tariffs on imported grain
Lowered food prices, benefiting urban workers
Hurt landowning aristocracy and tenant farmers
Promoted free trade policies
Contributed to the shift of political power from landed gentry to industrial interests
What year and reason was the new factory act passed
1844
Act: Factory Act passed Reasons for passage:
- Continued pressure from reformers for better working conditions
- Recognition that previous acts had been inadequate
- Growing acceptance among some industrialists of need for regulation
What year and reason was the - Factory Act (Ten Hours Act) passed
1847
Act: Factory Act (Ten Hours Act) passed Reasons for passage:
Sustained pressure from labor movement and reformers
Growing recognition of benefits of shorter working hours
Political compromise to appease working-class discontent
What was the effects of the ten hour act
1847
Limited working hours for women and young persons to 10 hours per day
Applied to textile industry initially
Significant victory for the working-class movement
Led to increased productivity as workers were less fatigued
Gradually extended to other industries in subsequent years
what year and reason was the - Public Health Act passed
1848
Act: Public Health Act passed Reasons for passage:
Cholera epidemics highlighted urgent need for sanitation reforms
Growing understanding of link between poor sanitation and disease
Pressure from reformers and medical professionals
what effects did the public heath act have
1848
Effects:
Established a Central Board of Health
Allowed for the creation of local boards of health
Empowered local authorities to improve sanitation and water supply
Addressed public health issues in urban areas
Laid groundwork for future public health initiatives, though initial impact was limited due to permissive nature of the act
what did the National Union of the Working Classes demand
Main demand: Universal manhood suffrage
Who where the Luddites and their main activity
Luddites where a group of skilled workers angry about new technology such as the spinning jenny
flying shuttle
Main period of activity: 1811-1816 (peak in 1812)
First incident: 1770s in Lancashire
What where the Luddites Main actions
Protest against: Establishment of machines, mainly in textile industry
Actions: Machine breaking, mostly water frames
Repression: By troops; some imprisoned
Note: Local magistrates sometimes sympathetic, leading to lax enforcement
How where the Luddites repressed
Causes: Wars disrupted markets, leading to food shortages and unemployment
Decline: Bread prices dropped by half from 1811, reducing agitation
Captain Swing Riots when reasons and outcome
When: 1830-1831
Led by: Mythical ‘Captain Swing’
Reasons for protest:
Lack of regular employment Low wages and poor conditions Lack of welfare
Taxes to Church of England (even for non-members)
Hunger
Location: Mainly south England & East Anglia
Outcome: Violently suppressed by troops; some executed, sent to Australia, imprisoned
What did James Watt do and year
1769
Adapted Newcomer’s engine, making it more efficient
Richard Arkwright what did he do and year
1769
Built the first modern factory in Derbyshire
benevolent factory leader
1771
Patented the Water Frame, produced 128 concurrent threads
Samuel Crompton what did he do and time period
1770s
Patented the Spinning Mule, combining Spinning Jenny and Water Frame
Henry Cort what did he do and year
1783-84 -Took patents for puddling and rolling iron
Steamship Savannah what was it and year
1819- First steamship to cross the Atlantic
George & Robert Stephenson, and Richard Trevithick what did they do and year
1804 -
Built first steam locomotive
1829 - Built the Rocket locomotive, traveled at 48kph
Selective Breeding what was it
Animals bred together with superior traits
Eli Whitney what did she do and year
Invented the cotton gin 1793
- Removed unwanted seeds from raw cotton efficiently
What was the first railway opened
Stockton → Darlington line opened 1825; pulled by mobile steam engine
Manchester → Liverpool line opened in 1830
- 400,000+ passengers carried in 1st year
- Unforeseen demand for transport of goods / people
1844 Act of Parliament; on railway
every line had to run 1 service, each way, for max of 1p/mile
- Apart from public service, railways stayed unregulated
Who was earl grey
Conservative gov. under George IV → liberal gov.
New gov. led by Early Gray; long-time advocate of reform
William Pitt Sr. who was he and what did he do
Grandson of successful trader in India
Became PM in 1763 → Became Earl of Chatham in 1763
End of war with France (1763) → ensured Canada became British and defended British commercial interests (India, West Indies)
William Pitt Jr. what did he do
Became PM in 1783
1783 peace treaty with the US; ensured continued flow of trade
Established commercial treaty with France in 1786; permitted easier exchange of goods between both countries
Peace treaty with France in 1815; ensured that British interests in Africa, West Indies, India, Australasia protected
Robert Peel who was he and what did he do
PM 1841 → 1846
- Born middle class, married into upper class
- Pushed through many reforms
Who was Lord Ashley
Failed to pass Ten Hours’ Bill by 1 vote
Select committee examining failings of 1833 Factory Act → 1842 Mines Act, 1844-47 Factory Acts
Thomas Paine what did he do
wrote The Rights of Man
- His duty to keep his own rights/guarantee that everyone else has rights
- Criticizes people for calling the British monarchy ‘ideal’, and suggests that people must strive for change in all the social classes, only then can people be content and leave their current constitutional system in place
What did the Chadwick do
1842 Sanitary Report
highlighted the dire state of sanitation, housing, and health. Chadwick used statistical evidence to show that living conditions significantly impacted life expectancy. lead to the 1848 public heath act
What and when was the Peterloo Massacre:
Violent clash on 16 August 1819, at St Peter’s Field, Manchester.
Why did the Peterloo massacre happen
1819
Economic slump, unemployment, high bread prices due to Corn Laws, demand for parliamentary reform.
Impact of the Peterloo massacre
1819
Impact: 18 deaths, 400–700 injuries, led to the repressive Six Acts and the founding of The Manchester Guardian.
