Post 1850 Industrial Britain

Question 1

Describe how the Industrial Revolution affected working class participation in sport in post 1850 Britain

Answer 1

-Urbanisation reduce space for the working class to play their sports.
- At the beginning of the industrial revolution the working class worked long hours (machine time) meaning there was little time to play their sports.
The working class received low wages meaning they had no money to take part in sport.
- However the revolution progressed the middle class factory owners set up factory teams which increased opportunity to participate in sport
- and the working day became shorter, going from 72 hours to 57 hours a week meaning the working class had more time to participate

Question 2

How did Social Class Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 2

Sport was now divided by amateurism and professionalism e.g
-Amateurs were the upper or middle classes. They took part for the enjoyment or love of the sport and not for financial gain
-Professionals were the working classes who needed to be paid to play because they could not afford time off work to play otherwise
Middle class tastes and manners influenced the more respectable nature of sport e.g
-They became patrons of sports such as football
-They Influenced society to become more respectable with an emphasis on refinement and good manners

Question 3

How did Gender Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 3

sport is still male dominated e.g
-They were expected to marry and have children and were financially dependent upon their husbands
-They had very little opportunity to take part in sports and activities however working class women had the least opportunity
Attitudes towards women gradually changed as the century progressed e.g
-Holistic approach -new argument – Good health through exercise
-Better clothing allowed for freer movement but remain lady like
-Lawn tennis was most popular for upper/middle class women by 1870’s (women played doubles)

Question 4

How did Law and Order Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 4

society became much more respectable as a result of the new middle-classes

• The formation of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829 meant that cruel and violent games such as bare knuckle fighting were in decline
• This reflected the ‘civilising process’ of the Victorian era which introduced defined laws
• The lawmakers were the middle and upper class so had influence over the defined laws being introduced
• Although blood sports had been banned their own cruel blood sports survived for example, fox hunting

Question 5

How did Education & Literacy Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 5

– Increased literacy amongst the working class led to greater opportunities for participation in sport e.g
-The working class could now read and understand more complex rules of sophisticated sports such as football and rugby meaning the could participate more
Upper & Middle Class school boys increased their literacy, administration and business skills at their public schools and as a result codified sport e.g
The middle and upper class men established the National Governing Bodies of these sports for example The F.A. was established in 1863 and the R.F.U. was established in 1871
As a result, sports became codified meaning they had a set list of rules and regulations

Question 6

How did Time Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 6

The introduction of ‘Factory Acts’ improved working conditions for the working class making sport more regular e.g

• Working hours reduced from 72 to a 57 hour week meaning sport became more regular
• Less work meant more energy to play
• Large factories paid for annual excursions to the seaside

Question 7

How did Money Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 7

Increased wages for the working class meant they could now afford to watch and take part in sport e.g
-meant that the working class could afford the gate money to see their local football team
-broken time payments meant that the working class could now afford to take part in sport for example, football
The middle & upper class were wealthy & could afford sophisticated equipment & specialist clothing e.g
Fashionable middle class families could afford a lawn tennis set

Question 8

How did Transport Influence the Characteristics of Post 1850 Sports and Pastimes?

Answer 8

The introduction of the railway network meant that sport became regional, national and international e.g

• This led to the development of leagues, cups & competitions in football and rugby. The first football league began in 1888 which was won by Preston North-End
• The working class could afford train fares with the introduction of 3rd class fares which led to the rise in spectatorism
• Sport spread rapidly throughout the country & the world. Sport became globalised