British Economic History: From the Slave Trade to the Industrial Revolution

Economic Context: Before the Industrial Revolution, Britain had already accumulated significant wealth through international trade. A primary driver of this wealth was the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The Three Stages of Trade: * Stage 1: West Africa: Slaves were captured and traded in West Africa. * Stage 2: The Americas: Slaves were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to America. They were forced to work on plantations producing cotton, tobacco, rice, and sugar. * Stage 3: Britain and World Markets: The raw materials produced on American plantations were shipped to Britain. In Britain, these materials were manufactured into finished goods. These goods were then transported to and sold in West Africa, Europe, America, and other parts of the world.
National Profit: Britain generated large profits from this global trade cycle.

Geographic Significance: Bristol is a city located in south-west England. Its position on the Bristol Channel made it a thriving and wealthy city during the era of slave trading.
Historical Timeline: Bristol served as an important slaving port for approximately 100 years, beginning in the early 18th century and lasting until the slave trade was abolished in 1807.
Operations: Companies based in Bristol sent ships specifically to capture slaves in West Africa.
Conditions on Ships: Many slaves died during the oceanic voyage from West Africa to America due to the extremely harsh conditions on the transport ships.
Import and Export Goods: * Imports: Ships arriving in Bristol brought raw cotton and sugar from America. * Exports: Ships leaving Bristol carried variety of British-made goods, including woven cotton cloth.

Demographics: Prior to the Industrial Revolution, nearly half of the population of Britain resided in small farming villages.
Agricultural Methods: * Farmers utilized simple farming tools. * Production was largely subsistence-based, meaning they produced only enough food to feed themselves.
Land Management: * Farmland was shared among the community. * The land consisted of "open fields" which were not divided by fences, hedges, or walls. * Livestock was grazed on "common land."
Economic Shifts in the 18th Century: * By the start of the 18th century, England’s wealth was growing steadily due to trade. * The population of Britain was increasing, which created a higher demand for food. * This demand spurred inventions that improved both crop production and livestock quality.

Definition: The enclosure movement involved replacing shared fields with fenced-off land that would belong to a single individual. This movement was a core component of the Agricultural Revolution.
The Shift in Efficiency: Larger, enclosed farms were more efficient than the older shared system, leading to both more food and higher quality food production.
Historical Timeline of Enclosure: * 16th Century: Land was first enclosed by wealthy landowners who sought to create large sheep farms for wool production. * Regulation: The system of enclosure was regulated by government laws via Acts of Parliament. * Acceleration: The majority of enclosures occurred during the 1760s and 1770s. * Completion: By 1800, most farms in England had been enclosed.
Ownership and Access: Enclosures primarily benefited wealthy landowners. Under this system, only the landowner was permitted use of the land. Common land was eliminated and converted into private property.

Economic Suffering: Small farmers and farm labourers suffered significantly. Without access to common land, many were left poor and homeless.
Urbanization and Labor: Because they could no longer support themselves in rural areas, small farmers and labourers moved to growing industrial towns. They sought employment as miners and factory workers.
Philosophical and Political Opposition: * Gerrard Winstanley, in a 1649 text titled "The True Levellers Standard Advanced," expressed opposition to the privatization of land. * Verbatim Quote: "England is not free until the poor who have no land, are allowed to dig and labour in the common land, and so live as comfortably as the landlords that live in their enclosures."

Development of Cities: The Industrial Revolution led to the rapid development of towns and cities. Families ceased working in and around their individual homes.
Proximity to Work: People migrated to cities to be closer to large factories where work was available.
Child Labor: * Men, women, and children worked long hours in factories. * Children as young as five years of age were employed. * Reasons for Child Labor: Children were used because their small size allowed them to reach places adults could not. They were required to crawl on, under, and on top of machines to perform tasks like cleaning. * Discipline: Children were subjected to cruel punishment for any mistakes made during work.

International Labor Migration: The British Industrial Revolution affected other colonies. Starting in 1860, indentured workers were sent from the British colony of India to the British colony of Natal.
Sugar Industry: Plantation owners in Natal used these indentured Indian workers to produce sugar in large quantities. This sugar was processed in factories similar to those found in Britain.
South African Industrial Revolution: In 1867, the discovery of diamonds at Kimberley marked the beginning of southern Africa’s own industrial revolution.

Source A Analysis Questions: 1. About how old are the children in the photograph? (Referencing Source A) 2. Why do you think factory owners use child labour in their factories? Think of as many reasons as you can. (Possible reasons identified in text: reach small spaces, crawl under machines, climb for cleaning). 3. Discuss why people consider child labour (especially in factories and mines) wrong.