Industrial Revolution 2.0

Census

Census

A count of every person and household in the county.

Royal Commission

An inquiry into an issue set up by the government. It has the power to summon witnesses to give evidence and is expected to write a detailed report making recommendations for changes. It was customary for those recommendations to become law.

House of Lords

One of two parts to the Birish Parliament. The House of Lords was made up entirely of lords; the majority of them who had either been made lords by the king, or who had inheriated the tittle for their fathers or other male relative.

House of Commons

All the members were elected, key issues were decided and most important laws initiated. They could veto any measure that the House of Commons decided on.

Public Schools

Privately run boarding schools, not actually public and charged high fees for attendance. Usually for boys.

Constitutional Monarchy

Political system in which the kings or queens power is set by constitutional limits. They aren’t above the law and can’t make laws on their own.

The Tories

Political party that dominated British politics throughout this period. In the course of the 1830’s it changed its name to the Conservative Party

Select Committiee

Group of members of parliament which examines a specific problem and makes recommendations for addressing it

Yeomanry

Force of local middle class volunteers. Created to support the army if there was invasion of France, but now used to prevent domestic disorder

Bastilles

Sarcastic references to workhouse peoples

Petition

Written request delivered to parliament, signed by the citizens, aked to take steps in petition

Trade Union

Group of workers who joined to defend their work related interests and put concern to managers. Aim to improve pay and working conditions

Repeal of the Combination Acts in 1824

The original Combination Acts passed in 1799 and 1800 made it illegal to have unions (organizations for workers) or for workers to go on strike (refuse to work).

In 1824, Parliament repealed (undid) these laws so that workers had the right to join a labor union and to go on strike. This meant that labor unions could now demand higher wages and better working conditions for their members

Factory Act of 1833

This law passed by Parliament in 1833 made it illegal for businesses to hire children younger than 9 years old. It also limited the amount of hours that children aged 9-12 could work to no more than 8 hours a day. Young people ages 13-17 could not work more than 12 hours a day.

Luddite Riots

A series of protests and violent uprisings in 19th-century England by skilled textile workers against new technologies that threatened their livelihoods. They would brake in and destroy the machines.

Caption Swing Riots

A-series of protests in rural England in 1830 that were a response to lack of employment, low wages, and poor working conditions. Captain Swing-a mythical character that was “organizing” movements and on threatening letters to landlords.

Peterloo

60,000 men and women attend a public meeting to listen to a speech by radical speaker Henry Hunt advocating for for reform of parliament. This would be shut down by soldiers killing 11 people. Example of a peaceful protest being shut down by brutal force.

Great Reform Act 1832

Voting is extended to men who own property, would exclude most working class. Would also lead to aristocratic control over parliament is reduced, with the middle class benefiting but still working class suffering.

Poor Law Amendment Act

Reformed the system of (Speenhamland) providing relief to the poor in Britain by requiring able-bodied individuals seeking assistance to enter workhouses where conditions were deliberately harsh, effectively discouraging reliance on parish relief and forcing them to seek employment instead; this system involved grouping parishes into unions, each with its own workhouse

Chartist Movement

Chartists saw themselves fighting against political corruption and for democracy in an industrial society, but attracted support beyond the radical political groups for economic reasons, such as opposing wage cuts and unemployment. Their aims to unite the working class included universal manhood suffrage, equal representation in parliament, annual re-election of parliament, and voting in secret to avoid detection. Was met with government violence including arrests and killing. It was an unsuccessful movement because the followers were divided and didn’t always agree on issues, they gained and lost support as economy fluctuated, government reaction invoked fear, and working class would lose support of middle class.

Mines Act of 1842

-law passed in 1842

-prevented women and children from working underground.

Urbanization Positives

Increased economic opportunities due to factory jobs in cities, leading to higher wages for workers compared to rural areas, a larger labor pool for factories, the development of new infrastructure and services within cities, and the potential for social and political change as populations concentrated in urban areas, fostering new ideas and movements

Negatives of Urbanization

Severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, widespread disease outbreaks due to poor living conditions, long working hours in dangerous factories, and exploitation of child labor, all stemming from the rapid influx of people into cities with insufficient infrastructure to support them