Rational Recreation

Question 1

Define Rational Recreation

Answer 1

Civilised and organised sports and pastimes of post-industrial Britain ( after 1800)

Question 2

What is meant by the term Industrial Revolution?

Answer 2

The transformation of society from a rural agricultural system to an urban factory system

Question 3

Briefly describe life in mid-nineteenth century Britain

Answer 3

Britain was a fully industrialised and mechanical society. Railways were having a massive impact and ex-public school boys were promoting sport throughout the world.

Question 4

Identify the characteristics of rational recreations and the cultural factors that influenced them.

Answer 4

Purpose built facilities - technological advancements
Regional/National/International - improved transport
Codification - business and administration skills
Respectable - new middle class influence
Regular - increased free time/improved transport
Exclusive/Elitist - social class and gender discrimination
Urban - The ‘Revolutions’
Control of Gambling - Increased law and order (Police Force)
Amateur/Professional - class structure/spectatorism
Fair play - Public School influence

Question 5

Give examples of Rational Recreation

Answer 5

Association Football, Rugby Football, Lawn Tennis, Athletics, Swimming

Question 6

Analyse the social and cultural factors influencing the development of Association Football

Answer 6

Increased free time - Saturday half day, early closing movement, paid holidays by 1890. Transport revolution - impact of cheap rail travel, the spread of of sport, codification of rules. Emergence of new middle class - gave respectability, changed attitudes and expectations. View of the Church - accepted the new rule based structure. Working conditions - improved over time and impacted on health and participation.

Question 7

Describe what is meant by the term Cholera

Answer 7

This is a water-borne disease causing diarrhoea. Unless treated it causes rapid dehydration and death.

Question 8

Explain how Industrialisation saw the emergence of the new middle class

Answer 8

These people were powerful and wealthy due to the ownership of mills, factories and foundries. They needed to employ a large workforce to make these ventures profitable.

Question 9

How did the Industrial Revolution impact on the life of rural peasants?

Answer 9

They lost A SHIRT!
Acceptance - of traditional activities due to middle class
Space - to play due to urbanisation and overcrowding
Health/Energy - working long hours in the factory
Influence - they were now controlled by social superiors
Rights - due to changes in criminal law
Time - due to a new 72 hour working week

Question 10

How were opportunities restricted for the working class in the first half of the nineteenth century (1800-1850)

Answer 10

Migration to towns and cities lead to reduced opportunity. The RSPCA was formed in 1824 and the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 declared baiting as illegal. The norm was a 72 hour working week, from 6-6-6 days a week. The number of official holidays was also reduced from 47 in 1761 to just 4 by 1834. Life was bleak, it was a time of gloom and poverty.

Question 11

Explain how opportunities and provision increased for the working class in the second half of the nineteenth century (1850-1900)

Answer 11

The formation and organisation of an effective workforce started a struggle to lift oppression and depression. This resulted in a 57 hour working week, a week’s paid holiday, annual excisions to the seaside, saturday half day (1870-90), the introduction of public parks and baths and the early closing movement. All of which allowed greater opportunity to participate in sport and recreation.

Question 12

Define Industrial Patronage

Answer 12

the provision of social, recreation and sporting opportunities by wealthy industrialists for their workers. For example Cadbury’s.

Question 13

Describe the impact of the railways on spreading sport throughout Britain

Answer 13

Took people further in a shorter time
Enabled distant teams to play each other
Allowed supporters to travel to watch their team play
Caused standardised rules to be needed
Speeded up the development of leagues and cups
Allowed people to visit the countryside
Factory owners could lay on trips to the seaside
Horses no longer had to walk to their next race!

Question 14

Define the ‘Early Closing Movement’

Answer 14

This was a series of Bills that were put through parliament that sought to reduce working hours as they were though to be damaging the health and well-being of the workers.

Question 15

Analyse the impact of the saturday half-day

Answer 15

Between 1870-1890 most workers had been granted the Saturday half-day. This created a nationwide slot for watching, or for a few even playing, sport. This coupled with the development of the railway allowed people to travel and the birth of spectatorism.

Question 16

Explain amateurism and professionalism during rational recreation.

Answer 16

Amateurism and professionalism influenced development and participation in sport. Middle- class gentleman amateurs took part for the love of the game. Working-class men could not afford to play for enjoyment but sometimes had the opportunity to play for money as a professional.

Question 17

How did rational recreation affect participation for women?

Answer 17

In early Victorian Britain  it was inappropriate for a middle-class lady to exercise.  This effectively banned physical activity.  the invention of Lawn Tennis in 1870 became a route for emancipation, being seen as a form of acceptable physical exercise.  Physical activity gradually became more acceptable.
Working-class women had neither the opportunity nor provision for leisure time physical activity.