Trade, wages and the impact on the poor

Question 1

Did Br trade suffer at all during the Continental system?

Answer 1

Br continued to trade w Europe (despite N’s CS)
BUT
there were a few dips in the level of Br exports

Question 2

What happened overall to Br exports?

Answer 2

Br exports rose overall during all of the wars
+
exports to Europe between 1790s-end of the war DOUBLED

Question 3

When did the trade war between Br & Fr and?

Answer 3

stopped by 1812 - Fr started to allow the Br to export items such as cotton, sugar & tea to Fr

Question 4

What happened to wages in Br?

Answer 4

they stayed the same between 1796-1814 (stagnated)
BUT
food prices rose

espc. hard for those w men in the war & if breadwinners didn’t come home/were injured

Question 5

Who helped families that were struggling w the rising prices?
+ examples of a system?

Answer 5

various parishes helped families who were finding it hard to cope with the rising prices
+
e.g. Speenhamland system

Question 6

What was the Speenhamland system?

Answer 6

linked the size of families in comparison to a loaf of bread in order to determine relief (prior to means testing)

Question 7

How long did these systems/relief last?

Answer 7

most of the relief systems were non-existent by around 1815