1F Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885

This option allows students to study change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period through the following key questions:

How was Britain governed and how did democracy and political organisations change and develop?
What pressures did governments face and how did they respond to these?
How and with what results did the economy develop and change?
How and with what results did society and social policy develop?
How important were ideas and ideology?
How important was the role of individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments?

Part one: the impact of industrialisation: Britain, c1783–1832

The British political system in 1783: government and representation; national and local democracy; Whigs and Tories
Government: Pitt the Younger as Prime Minister and his successors; Pitt's relationship with the King; the 1784 election; reform of finance, administration and trade
Economic developments: industrialisation; the growth of cotton and other industries; changes in power; the condition of agriculture
Social developments: the middle class; the industrial workforce; landowners; agricultural labourers and the poor; working conditions; standards of living; the Combination Acts
Pressures on government: the political influence of the French Revolution; Irish rebellion and union; radicalism and opposition; party splits; demands for parliamentary reform
Pressures on government: the political, economic and social impact of war; the condition of Britain by 1812

Government: Lord Liverpool; the Corn Laws and other legislation; attitudes to reform and repression; the economy; the repeal of the Combination Acts
Government: Canning, Goderich and Wellington; legislation including the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts; the metropolitan police force; O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation
Economic developments: continuing industrialisation and developments in key industries; agricultural change; economic policies and free trade
Social developments: the effects of industrialisation; standards of living and working class discontent
Pressures for change: Luddism and radical agitation; the anti-slavery movement; Methodism; early socialism and the ideas of Robert Owen
Greater democracy: the election of the Whigs; pressure for parliamentary reform; the Great Reform Act and its impact; the state of Britain politically, economically and socially by 1832

Government: Grey, Melbourne and the ideas and ideology of the Whig Party; the Tories in opposition and government; Peel and the transformation of the Conservative party
The Whig response to social change; social reforms including: education, factory legislation, abolition of slavery, the Poor Law Amendment Act, the Municipal Corporations Act
Pressure for change: Chartism; Irish radicalism; the Anti-Poor Law League; the Anti-Corn Law League; social reform campaigners including Shaftesbury and Chadwick
The Conservative response to change: finance, administration and the economy; the Bank Charter Act; trade and business reform
Economic developments: the railway 'revolution' and associated economic growth; agriculture and Corn Law repeal
Social developments: conditions in urban Britain; changes in the lives of workers and the poor; unions and other working-class movements

Government and developing political organisation: the development of the political system and party realignment; the emergence of the Liberal Party
Government and democracy: Gladstone, his ministries and ideas and policies; Disraeli, his ministries, ideas and policies; increasing democracy; legislation
Pressure for change: social campaigns, Public Health reform; Chartism; pressure for parliamentary reform; Irish Nationalism
Economic developments: the mid-Victorian boom; the 'golden age' of agriculture; industrial and transport developments; impact of increased trade; the Great Depression
Social developments: prosperity and poverty in towns and countryside; regional divisions; influences including Evangelicalism; 'self-help'; trade unions and education
The political, economic and social condition of Britain by 1885; the extent of democracy and Britain’s industrial position