Topic 47. The Industrial revolution in Great Britain: Its influence as a model of historical transformation. Main social and political changes reflected in the literature of the time: Charles Dickens

What is Charles Dickens often referred to as regarding Victorian England?

Charles Dickens is often named as the conscience of Victorian England.

What were the characteristics of Charles Dickens' novels?

His novels were groundbreaking for their ability to reflect and critique society in a beautifully human manner.

What does the success of Dickens' novels signify?

The success of his novels signifies their ability to transcend eras, showing their enduring virtuosity.

What key topics are discussed in relation to Dickens in the introduction of the topic?

The industrial revolution, an analysis of Victorian society, a summary of Dickens' main works, and an in-depth analysis of 'Hard Times' and 'Great Expectations'.

What key factors contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Britain?

It was driven mainly by land enclosure that displaced many villagers and technological development introducing mechanical improvements requiring specialized workers.

What social change occurred due to the Industrial Revolution?

The mode of living of rural society became incompatible with the new social reality within a single generation.

As a result, Britain emerged as the first nation-state of an industrial-capitalist democracy.

Land enclosure

led to significant changes in farming practices which resulted in:

• The displacement of many villagers from their land and

• In an increase in the quantity of farming products in town markets

Technological development

involved the introduction of mechanical improvements that changed production systems, requiring specialised workers

The mode of living of rural society became

incompatible with social reality within a single generation.

Britain emerged as

the first nation-state of a new type: industrial-capitalist democracy

Britain emerged as the _________ of a new type: industrial-capitalist democracy

first nation-state

Britain emerged as the first nation-state of a new type: ___________________

industrial-capitalist democracy

The mode of living of rural society became incompatible with ____________ within a single generation.

social reality

In Britain, the transition from the agriculture and domestic handcraft economy to an industrial-capitalist society was primarily due to two main reasons

1) Land enclosure

2) Technological development

the transition from ______________________________ to an industrial-capitalist society

the agriculture and domestic handcraft economy

the transition from the agriculture and domestic handcraft economy to____________________

an industrial-capitalist society

What was the primary source of wealth prior to industrialization?

Land was the primary source of wealth, obtained from soil management and land enclosure.

What new source of wealth emerged from the Industrial Revolution?

A new source of great wealth grew from the ownership of factories and machinery.

Who were the capitalists responsible for the growth of the Industrial Revolution?

Those who invested in factories and machinery, regardless of their social class, including landed aristocracy, industrialists, and merchants.

What factors were controlled by the new industrial-capitalist system?

The new industrial-capitalist system controlled money, labour, goods, and technology.

What was the consequence of the introduction of new technology in the agricultural system?

It forced the reorganization of the agricultural system, enclosing commonly held land.

As a consequence of the enclosure,

a new labour class was created, and people were forced to earn a living off their lands.

What are some examples of how people earned a living after land enclosure?

People earned a living by getting coal from the open land or making their own clothes.

What invention accelerated the textile industry's production process in 1764?

The spinning machine.

The spinning machine year

1764

The textile industry experienced rapid change due to the invention of the spinning machine (1764), which

accelerated the production process

Landless people were not only the perfect labour force but also

the perfect consumers for the new market of goods

New technology led to the invention of machines which elaborated large quantities of goods in a quick and cheap way, marking

the beginning of mass production

New technology led to the invention of machines which elaborated large quantities of goods in a quick and ____ way,

cheap

Engineering and transport were highly implemented: Most of the new machines were related to_________, which broke down local market economy.

textile industry

There were also important contributions to transport. For example,

• Watt’s improvements to the steam engine in 1781 and

• The development of the railway system such as the Great Western Railway (1833)

Watt’s improvements to the steam engine YEAR

1781

The development of the railway system such as the Great Western Railway in

1833

In Britain, raw materials such as ______________were widely used. These could also be obtained from other regions of the British Empire like India.

coal, iron ore, water and wool

In Britain, _______ such as coal, iron ore, water and wool were widely used. These could also be obtained from other regions of the British Empire like India.

raw materials

In Britain, raw materials such as coal, iron ore, water and wool were widely used. These could also be obtained from other regions of the British Empire like _____

India

There was a replacement of organic fuels based on wood by

fossils fuels based on coal.

There was a replacement of __________ by fossils fuels based on coal.

organic fuels based on wood

_______________ were leading practices which consolidated England as a power globally. Soon factories and warehouses were also made of iron

Ironworking and steelmaking

Soon __________ were also made of iron

factories and warehouses

What industries helped consolidate England as a global power?

Ironworking and steelmaking

What materials were used to build factories and warehouses during this period?

Iron.

As a result of all these innovations, industrial towns rapidly increased in size,

e.g. Sheffield and Manchester.

The term “black country” was coined to describe

the new look of the nation in coal colour under appalling environmental conditions. Families were squeezed into tiny dark dwellings and diseases were easily spread.

Why was the term "black country" coined?

To describe the coal-covered nation and its poor environmental conditions.

What were living conditions like in the "black country"?

Families lived in tiny, dark dwellings where diseases spread easily

The emergence of a more demanding middle class along with new industrial cities like Manchester without any political representation urged

The reform of the electoral system.

What caused pressure to reform the electoral system?

The emergence of a more demanding middle class and unrepresented new industrial cities like Manchester.

This resulted in ______________ which granted seats in the House of Commons to large cities that had sprung up during the industrial Revolution.

the Reform Act of 1832

And though the middle-class became partially acknowledged, workers …

were still not represented by the British electoral system

What did the Reform Act of 1832 achieve?

It granted seats in the House of Commons to large cities that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

Despite the Reform Act of 1832, which group was still not represented in the British electoral system?

Workers.

The Chartism movement appeared in _____, it was a working-class political movement formed by workers, radicals and unions with an aim to reform Parliament.

1837

When did the Chartism movement emerge?

In 1837.

Who formed the Chartism movement?

Workers, radicals, and unions.

What was the main goal of the Chartism movement?

To reform Parliament.

The Chartism movement appeared in 1837, it was a working-class political movement formed by workers, radicals and unions with an aim to reform_______

Parliament

In _____, the People’s Charter outlined the movement’s demands

1838

What document outlined the Chartist movement's demands in 1838?

The People’s Charter.

Six demands outlined in the People’s charter (1838)?

1. Universal male suffrage

2. Secret ballot

3. Annual parliamentary elections

4. MP’s payments

5. Equal electoral districts

6. And no property qualification for MPs

Who supported the Chartism movement?

The lower classes.

Did the Chartism movement succeed as a parliamentary movement?

No, it failed as a parliamentary movement

Despite its failure, what happened to the demands of the Chartism movement?

Five of the six demands became a reality within a century.

This movement rapidly gained support among _________. Chartism failed as a parliamentary movement. Despite this, five of the six demands became a reality within a century

The lower classes

This movement rapidly gained support among the lower classes. Chartism failed as _____________. Despite this, five of the six demands became a reality within a century

A parliamentary movement

Concerning socioeconomic conditions, families were forced to work to survive. Living on __________ required women and small children to work in factories.

Small wages

Why did families work in factories during this period?

They were forced to work to survive.

Almost half of the workers were women and ______ were children under the age of 13.

15%

Working conditions were dreadful, factories were unhealthy and dangerous. Normally, workers worked ___________

twelve to fourteen hours daily

Who were among the workers in factories?

Women and small children.

What percentage of factory workers were women and children?

Nearly half were women, and 15% were children under the age of 13.

What were the working conditions like in factories?

They were dreadful, unhealthy, and dangerous.

What did the literature of the Industrial Revolution portray?

What families, especially women and children, had to endure.

Which author wrote about the struggles of industrial society in the Victorian Age?

Charles Dickens.

Which novel by Charles Dickens highlights the struggles of the Industrial Revolution?

Hard Times (1854).

Charles Dickens YEAR

(1812-1870)

Charles Dickens biography

Born at Portsmouth, he was the son of a minor government clerk. They moved to London where he grew up in great poverty with little education. When he was ten, his father was arrested for debts and the whole family -except Charles- joined him in Debtor’s prison. Young Charles was forced to work in a factory to feed them all. He attended school until he was 15, teaching himself shorthand, and then became a parliamentary reporter.

He gained recognition and financial ease with The Pickwick Papers. He married Catherine Hogarth with whom he had ten children. He travelled to Europe and the United States in his reading tours which were successful but exhausting. Finally, he died at the age of 58 and was buried in the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

Where was Charles Dickens born?

Portsmouth

What was Dickens' father's occupation?

He was a minor government clerk.

How did Dickens' family live during his childhood?

They lived in great poverty with little education.

What happened to Dickens' father when he was ten?

He was arrested for debts and sent to Debtor's prison.

How did young Charles Dickens contribute to his family?

He was forced to work in a factory to support them.

What skill did Charles Dickens teach himself while attending school?

Shorthand

What job did Dickens take up after leaving school?

Parliamentary Reporter

Which work brought Dickens recognition and financial ease?

The Pickwick Papers

Who did Charles Dickens marry?

Catherine Hogarth.

How many children did Dickens have with his wife Catherine?

10 children

Where did Charles Dickens travel for his reading tours?

Europe and the United States

What was the outcome of Dickens' reading tours?

They were successful but exhausting

At what age did Charles Dickens die?

58

Where is Charles Dickens buried?

In the Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.

What were the main concerns in Charles Dickens' works?

The analysis and description of society in England, particularly the economic measures oppressing the poor.

What kind of settings did Dickens typically depict in his novels?

Poor, devastated surroundings, often reflecting the harsh realities of industrial towns.

How did Dickens portray industrial towns in his novels?

Through realistic depictions, like in Hard Times.

What was the purpose of Dickens' works?

To expose social injustices and promote humanitarian alternatives to radical ideologies with the aim of improving social conditions.

How did Dickens create his characters?

Dickens resorted to his experience of life and people to carefully depict his characters.

How did Dickens connect his characters to their surroundings?

By creating landscapes and residences that paralleled the essence of the character.

How does Dickens use colours symbolically in his works?

Darker colours symbolise death, loneliness, and fear, while lighter colours evoke love and happiness.

What literary devices does Dickens use to connect with his readers?

He uses humour, tenderness, and a sense of familiarity through popular speech.

Which Dickens novel is considered autobiographical and explores themes of discipline and maturity?

David Copperfield (1850).