Urbanization

Urbanization: From Town to City

Overview of Pre-Industrial England (1700)

  • Setting is rural England in the year 1700, characterized by:

    • Slow change and limited information access in villages.

    • Population: 3 out of 4 people lived in rural areas.

Lifestyle Characteristics of Villagers

  • Home and work life integration:

    • Work performed in nearby fields.

    • Entire family worked from sunrise to sunset.

    • Homes: small, poor lighting, and ventilation.

    • Living conditions:

    • Families shared rooms; sometimes shared with livestock.

    • Life expectancy around 40 years.

    • Early marriages, often before 20; high infant mortality:

      • 1 out of 3 infants died before their first birthday.

      • Only half reached 21 years old.

Social Structure in 18th Century England

  • Social classes divided by wealth:

    • Majority: poor farmers.

    • Few middle-class individuals.

    • A minority of aristocrats, owning vast tracts of land.

    • Land essential for sustenance, production, and survival.

Economic Activities of Villagers

  • Predominantly agricultural:

    • Most peasants owned small plots of land.

    • Villages connected by dirt roads, poor travel conditions in wet seasons.

    • Farmers seldom traveled beyond 25 miles from birthplace.

Energy Sources and Economic Transition

  • Fuel sources included:

    • Firewood and coal, with coal mining prevalent in villages.

    • Initial expectation of the Industrial Revolution as a major societal shift:

    • Pivotal changes anticipated over the next century.

Introduction to the Urban Planning Activity

  • Objective: Design an appealing village.

    • Tools: PENCILS only on a large paper.

    • Must assign a name to the village.

Drawing Instructions

  • Maintain consistent item sizes:

    • River: 1/2 inch wide, flowing east to west.

    • Wooden bridge across the river.

    • Four roads from each direction.

    • Draw the following:

    • 10 houses (house size as a dime).

    • 1 church.

    • 1 cemetery.

    • 1 store.

    • 1 pub.

    • 1 coal mine.

    • Numerous trees (half the size of a dime).

Implementing Changes During the Industrial Revolution

  • Year 1745:

    • Geography aided the construction of canals leading to dramatic profit increases:

    • Reduced transportation costs for coal.

    • Designation: Build 1 larger house (size of 2 houses).

  • Year 1750:

    • Population boom due to hygiene improvements post-plague:

    • Add 5 houses to your plan.

  • Year 1760:

    • Introduction of mechanical farm inventions:

    • Seed drill and horse-drawn cultivator.

    • Improved farming practices like crop rotation and fertilizers:

    • Add 5 more houses.

  • Year 1773:

    • Invention of the Water Frame by Richard Arkwright leading to first cotton factory:

    • Add 1 cotton factory on the river bank and 5 houses for workers.

  • Year 1774:

    • Increased demand for housing due to factory needs:

    • Add 5 houses, 1 church, 1 pub, 1 store, additional roads, and 1 bridge.

  • Year 1775:

    • Rapid growth in factory establishment and wealth:

    • Add 5 new factories (along riverbank) and 5 houses.

  • Year 1780:

    • Housing crisis leads to construction of tenements:

    • Add 5 tenements.

  • Year 1781:

    • Increasing need for social structures:

    • Add 1 store, 1 pub, 1 church, and 1 school for boys.

  • Year 1782:

    • Workers' reliance on pubs for relaxation after long hours:

    • Add 2 more pubs.

  • Year 1783:

    • Emergence of wealthy families with luxurious lifestyles:

    • Add 2 large luxury homes (size 3x a house).

  • Year 1785:

    • Invention of the steam engine allowing factories to expand:

    • Add 10 factories with smoke emissions and 1 nicer house.

  • Year 1800:

    • Coal becomes necessary in the iron industry:

    • Add 2 coal mines and an iron bridge.

  • Year 1815:

    • Demand for coal rises; child labor becomes prevalent:

    • Add 1 cemetery for the deceased workers.

  • Year 1820:

    • Development of railroads to cope with heavy traffic:

    • Add 1 railroad line to coal mining areas.

  • Year 1837:

    • Introduction of power-driven machinery impacting various industries:

    • Draw street lights powered by gas for urban lighting.

  • Year 1838:

    • Deteriorating working conditions in factories leading to illness and injury:

    • Add 2 hospitals and 1 cemetery.

  • Year 1842:

    • Cultural resources become available for the middle class:

    • Add 1 museum, 2 theaters, and 2 private schools.

  • Year 1845:

    • Urban pollution and health crises emerge:

    • Add 3 cemeteries, 1 jail, and 3 hospitals.

  • Year 1850:

    • Enclosure movement and urban migration peak:

    • Add 20 houses, 5 tenements, 2 stores, 1 church, 5 factories, 1 pub, and 1 large house.

Reflection on Urbanization Dynamics

  • Discussion on the hectic experience as the simulation progresses.

  • Urbanization shifts:

    • In 1801, 20% urban and 80% rural; by 1911, reversal to 80% urban and 20% rural:

    • Implications for British society, culture, and economy.

  • Comparisons drawn with American and European industrialization.

Summary of Urban Plan Outputs

  • Check the quantity of constructed features:

    • Notable elements include:

    • Bridges: 2 wooden bridges, 1 iron bridge.

    • Railroads: 2 lines.

    • Houses: 95 total.

    • Churches: 4.

    • Hospitals: 4.

    • Cemeteries: 4.

    • Stores: 6.

    • Pubs: 11.

    • Coal mines: 3.

    • Nice homes: 6.

    • Schools: 3 (1 public, 2 private).

    • Jails: 2.

    • Factories: 22.

    • Tenements: 30.

Assignment Reflection

  • Questions for consideration on urban planning challenges:

    • Name and describe three major issues to address.

    • Reflect on the city's development difficulties.

    • Identify what changes would be made if the city were designed again.