AS History₇₀₄₁

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?

The Impact of Industrialisation: Britain, c1783–1832

Pressure for change, c1783–1812

• 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 and a changing society, 1812–1832

• 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