Year 9 History Revision

Industrial Revolution (1750–1914)

Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Britain?

1. Agricultural Revolution

• Better farming methods increased food production.

• New inventions:

  • Seed Drill (Jethro Tull)

  • Crop Rotation (Townshend)

• Enclosure Movement created larger, more efficient farms.

• Fewer workers were needed on farms → people moved to cities.

2. Natural Resources

Britain had plenty of:

• Coal (fuel for factories and steam engines)

• Iron (machines, railways, bridges)

3. Growing Population

• Better food and medicine.

• Population increased.

• More workers and more customers.

4. Empire and Trade

• Britain had colonies providing:

  • Raw materials (especially cotton)

  • Markets to sell manufactured goods.

5. Stable Government

• Few wars at home.

• Strong banking system.

• People were willing to invest money into businesses.

6. New Inventions

Important inventions included:

• Steam Engine (James Watt)

• Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves)

• Water Frame (Richard Arkwright)

• Power Loom (Edmund Cartwright)

Agricultural Revolution

Key Features

• Enclosure Movement

• Crop rotation

• Selective breeding of animals

• Seed Drill

• Better ploughs

Effects

✔ More food
✔ Population growth
✔ Less famine
✔ More workers moved to factories
✔ Beginning of urbanisation

Factory, Mine and Child Labour

Working Conditions

Workers often experienced:

• 12–16 hour shifts

• Low wages

• Dangerous machinery

• No holidays

• Poor ventilation

• Little safety

Child Labour

Children worked because they were:

• Cheap

• Small enough to crawl into machines and mines

• Easy to control

Jobs included:

• Chimney sweeps

• Coal mine workers

• Textile factory workers

Problems:

• Long hours

• Injuries

• Lung disease

• No education

• Physical abuse

Positive Consequences

Economic

• More jobs

• Increased wealth

• Mass production

Technology

• Steam trains

• Steamships

• Telegraph

• Better machinery

Society

• Better transport

• Improved healthcare (later)

• Cheaper products

• Higher living standards over time

Negative Consequences

Environmental

• Pollution

• Dirty rivers

• Smoke

Social

• Overcrowded cities

• Slums

• Disease

• Poor sanitation

Workers

• Unsafe workplaces

• Child labour

• Low wages

• Long hours

Important Historical Terms

Industrialisation
→ Growth of factories and machine production.

Urbanisation
→ Movement of people from rural areas to cities.

Capitalism
→ Businesses owned privately for profit.

Mechanisation
→ Machines replacing human labour.

Mass Production
→ Producing goods quickly in large numbers.

China (1750–1918)

Structure of Chinese Society

Emperor

• Absolute ruler.

• Believed to rule under the Mandate of Heaven.

↓

Scholar-Officials (Gentry)

• Passed difficult examinations.

• Ran the government.

↓

Peasants

• Largest group.

• Farmers.

• Highly respected because they produced food.

↓

Artisans

• Skilled craftsmen.

↓

Merchants

• Wealthy but low status.

• Seen as making money from others' work.

Religion and Culture

Main beliefs:

Confucianism

Focused on:

• Respect

• Family loyalty

• Education

• Obedience

• Good government

Buddhism

Believed in:

• Rebirth

• Karma

• Enlightenment

Daoism (Taoism)

Focused on:

• Living in harmony with nature

• Balance (Yin and Yang)

Cultural Features

• Ancestor worship

• Calligraphy

• Silk production

• Porcelain

• Festivals

• Respect for elders

• Importance of education

Men, Women and Children

Men

• Head of household

• Education

• Government jobs

• Farming or business

Women

• Obey father, husband then son

• Managed household

• Raised children

• Limited rights

• Foot binding common among wealthy families

Children

• Helped parents

• Boys received more education

• Girls prepared for marriage and household work

European Contact with China

Europe wanted:

• Tea

• Silk

• Porcelain

China wanted very little from Europe.

Britain began selling opium to China.

Opium Wars (1839–1860)

Causes

• Britain sold opium illegally.

• Millions became addicted.

• Chinese government destroyed British opium.

Britain declared war.

Results

China lost.

Treaty of Nanjing (1842):

• Hong Kong given to Britain.

• Treaty ports opened.

• Large compensation paid.

• Britain gained trading rights.

Consequences:

• China weakened.

• Foreign influence increased.

• Loss of sovereignty.

Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864)

Leader:
Hong Xiuquan

Believed he was Jesus' younger brother.

Causes

• Poverty

• Corruption

• High taxes

• Famine

• Anger at Qing government

Effects

• 20–30 million deaths.

• Huge destruction.

• Qing Dynasty weakened.

• Foreign influence increased.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

The Boxers were:

A secret society who wanted:

• Remove foreigners.

• Remove Christian missionaries.

• Protect Chinese traditions.

Causes

• Foreign control

• Christian influence

• Economic hardship

• Nationalism

Results

An international army defeated the Boxers.

China had to:

• Pay huge compensation.

• Allow more foreign control.

• Accept more foreign influence.

Qing Dynasty became even weaker.

Comparing the Three Major Events

Cause and Effect Summary

Industrial Revolution

Causes

• Agricultural Revolution

• Coal and iron

• Population growth

• New inventions

• Trade

• Capital

Effects

• Factories

• Urbanisation

• Pollution

• Child labour

• Economic growth

• New technology

China

Causes

• European imperialism

• Opium trade

• Weak Qing government

• Internal unrest

Effects

• Unequal treaties

• Foreign control

• Rebellions

• Economic problems

• Decline of Qing Dynasty

Source Analysis Tips

When analysing a source, ask:

Origin

• Who created it?

• When?

Purpose

• Why was it created?

Audience

• Who was meant to see it?

Perspective

• Is it biased?

• Whose view is missing?

Use Evidence
Always quote or describe evidence from the source in your answer.