Key Concepts in Industrial Economy and Society

Enclosures

The process of consolidating small landholdings into larger farms.

Rural

Relating to the countryside rather than the town.

Raw Materials

Basic materials from which products are made.

Flying Shuttle

A device that allowed a single weaver to weave much wider fabrics.

Back-to-back houses

Houses that are built directly behind one another, sharing a wall.

Disease

A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant.

Industry

The production of goods or services within an economy.

Coal

A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock used as a fuel source.

Laissez-Faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.

Urban

Relating to a city or town.

Capitalism

An economic system where private individuals own and control property and businesses.

Livestock

Farm animals raised for commercial purposes.

Propaganda

Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause.

Manufacture

The process of making products from raw materials.

New Animal Breeds

Animals that have been selectively bred for specific traits.

Union

An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights.

Seed Drill

A device that sows seeds at the correct depth and spacing.

Four Crop Rotation

A farming practice that involves rotating four different crops to maintain soil fertility.

Textiles

Cloth or fabric produced by weaving or knitting.

Cottage Industry

A small-scale industry where products are made at home.

Steam Engine

A heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam.

Spinning Jenny

A multi-spindle spinning frame used to spin yarn.

Water Frame

A spinning frame that uses water power to produce stronger yarn.

Mule

A hybrid spinning machine that combines features of the spinning jenny and water frame.

Luddites

A group of English workers who destroyed machinery as a protest against industrialization.

Chimney Sweep

A person who cleans the soot from chimneys.

Trapper

A person who traps animals for their fur or other resources.

Phossy Jaw

A disease caused by exposure to white phosphorus, affecting the jaw.

Piecer

A worker who joins together broken threads in textile production.

Child Labour

The practice of employing children in work that deprives them of their childhood.

Knocker Up

A person employed to wake workers by tapping on their windows.

Nightsoil Man

A person who collects human waste from privies.

Rat Catcher

A person who catches rats, often for pest control.

Cesspit

A pit for the disposal of sewage and waste.

Vermin

Wild animals that are believed to be harmful to crops, farm animals, or health.

Smog

Fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants.