Changing Britain

National 5 History Revision Notes

Introduction to the Changing Britain Unit

  • Purpose: This booklet serves as a comprehensive guide for revision on the Changing Britain Unit from 1760 to 1914. It encompasses essential information and revision tasks to enable students to solidify their understanding.

    • Look out for:

    • Key Revision Icon: Highlights tasks for understanding.

    • Lightbulb Icon: Marks critically important information.

  • Support: Students are encouraged to ask teachers for additional resources if needed.

SQA Course Descriptor

  • Utilization: Use this section as a checklist to confirm detailed notes on all relevant topics within the unit.

Health and Housing: Living Conditions in Late 18th and Early 19th Century

  • Overview: Rapid urbanization led to poor living conditions due to rising populations and inadequate housing.

  • Statistics on Housing:

    • In 1861, 72% of Scotland's population lived in one or two rooms.

  • Housing Quality:

    • Buildings were hastily constructed, often without windows, leading to dark, damp, and cold environments. Poor maintenance resulted in slum-like conditions.

    • Closes: Narrow lanes between tenement blocks, receiving little sunlight, thus remaining perpetually damp.

  • Water Supply and Sanitation:

    • No running water; residents relied on contaminated standpipes for water. Shared toilets often overflowed due to inadequate sanitary systems.

    • Lack of refuse collection led to the accumulation of waste in streets, worsening sanitation.

    • Improper drainage allowed polluted water to stagnate, significantly impacting health.

Reasons for Poor Health

  • Sanitation Issues:

    • Open sewers facilitated bacterial growth.

    • Contaminated water spread diseases.

  • Rubbish Disposal:

    • Accumulated refuse attracted vermin, exacerbating health crises like typhus.

  • Overcrowding:

    • Close quarters promoted the spread of diseases including cholera, tuberculosis (TB), smallpox, and scarlet fever.

  • Substandard Housing:

    • Poor living conditions aggravated existing health issues (e.g., TB and asthma).

    • Lack of natural light in cramped homes contributed to ailments like rickets.

  • Nutritional Deficiencies:

    • Poor diet resulted in a lack of vitamins, leading to lowered immunity against diseases.

  • Medical Care Accessibility:

    • Financial barriers prevented families from accessing medical care, leaving ailments untreated.

    • Widespread misconceptions led to untreated diseases that are now curable (e.g., TB).

    • Availability of vaccinations for diseases like measles or polio was non-existent.

Improvements in Living Conditions by 1914

Housing Improvements

  • Government Initiatives:

    • Public Health Acts: Empowered local authorities to develop sanitation infrastructure including sewers, rubbish collection, clean water supply, and regular street cleaning.

    • 1855 Nuisance Removal Act: Authorized authorities to address health hazards posed by unsafe properties.

    • 1875 Artisans and Labourers' Dwelling Act: Enabled slum clearance, initiating demolition of dilapidated housing by 1880.

  • Urban Development:

    • Construction of pavements, enhanced street surfaces, public lighting, parks, and libraries improved overall living conditions.

Technological Innovations

  • Lighting and Hygiene:

    • Electricity: Introduction of electric lights in London by 1848, although rural areas lagged (e.g., Scottish Highlands received electricity in the 1950s).

    • Indoor Plumbing: The late 19th century saw flushing toilets become prevalent in affluent households, enhancing sanitation.

    • Coal-burning Kitchen Ranges: Replaced open fires, providing easier access to hot water at home.

Revision Tasks

  • Recruitment Task: Create flashcards detailing methods of recruitment and reasons why men enlisted.

  • Living Conditions Task: Utilize colored flashcards to differentiate between descriptions of poor living conditions and reasons for poor health.

Improved Conditions for the Middle Classes

  • Social Shifts: Growth of suburbs with expansions in railway services allowed wealthier individuals to relocate from polluted urban centers to countryside areas, characterized by larger homes and domestic servants.

Public Health Improvements by 1914

Acknowledgement of Legislative Changes

  • The enactment of Public Health Acts granted local governments the authority needed to improve health standards effectively. Sanitary inspectors were appointed, roles stipulated by legislation addressing disease outbreaks.

  • Nuisance Removal Act (1855): authorized necessary clean-up of unsafe properties.

  • Artisans and Labourers' Dwelling Act (1875): provided legal backing for local authorities to initiate slum clearance.

Dietary Advancements

  • The transportation of fresh produce by rail made diets healthier and more diverse, contributing to better public health.

  • Improved farming techniques increased food supply, subsequently boosting the nutritional quality of diets across social strata.

Medical Progress

  • Compulsory vaccination against smallpox introduced in 1853 drastically reduced infant mortality rates.

  • The introduction of anesthetics (1847) and antiseptics (1867) revolutionized surgical procedures and patient care, significantly increasing survival rates.

  • Florence Nightingale's efforts during the Crimean War improved nursing standards, leading to enhanced patient outcomes.

  • Breakthroughs in germ theory (e.g., John Snow's cholera discovery and Louis Pasteur's germ theory) promoted cleanliness and broader acceptance of hygiene protocols.

Effects of Changes by 1900

  • Significant reduction in diseases like cholera and typhus highlighted improved public health from earlier periods.

  • Though overcrowding persisted and local authorities faced challenges in housing shortages, there were notable strides toward addressing public health issues by 1900.

Industrial Changes in Textiles

Domestic System Transition

  • The domestic system characterized the 18th-century textile production, where family units operated hand-powered machines.

Innovations in Textile Production

  • Key inventions included:

    • 1733: Flying Shuttle - accelerated weaving processes.

    • 1764: Spinning Jenny - enhanced the spinning output.

    • 1769: Water Frame by Arkwright - produced stronger, finer threads, powered by water.

    • 1785: Power Loom - bridged spinning systems to fast-track weaving efficiency, utilizing steam power.

Factory System Emergence

  • The shift towards industrial-scale production necessitated centralized mills leveraging steam power, resulting in workers migrating from home-based work to factory settings.

Working Conditions in Mills

  • Characterized by:

    • Strict regulation of work conditions, including temperature maintenance (70°C) for optimal textile quality.

    • Child labor was prevalent; children occupied roles as piecers, managing equipment but were often at risk of injury in hazardous environments.

    • Long hours and low wages (e.g., men: 15 shillings, women: 7 shillings, children: 3 shillings weekly).

Legal Changes and Factory Acts

  • The response to child exploitation was notable in legislative efforts like the Factory Acts, which set limits on working hours and improved safety measures. Key milestones included:

    • 1833: Enacted restrictions on child labor with designated working hour caps for various age groups.

    • 1844: Established fencing around machinery to bolster worker safety, particularly for children.

Conclusion

  • The late 19th century saw progressive changes in Britain concerning health and social issues. Legislative actions, advancements in technology, and rising public awareness were instrumental in shaping improved living and working conditions that laid the foundation for future socio-political developments leading into the 20th century.