Industrial revolution (governm

A detailed Summary of Industrial revolution (governm

How far did popular unrest contribute to political reform?

The pressure supplied by large numbers of people and many different lobby groups at the time of early industrialisation, did to a large extent, help forge a way for political reform, however it was not the only factor. In the metamorphosis period of industrialisation where British industry went from cottage to factory styles of production, the working classes suffered a huge fall in living and working conditions. Disease was out of control, sanitation was non-existent and child and women labour were the flavour of the day. These deplorable conditions awakened a social consciousness in the lower gentry that had such an intimidating effect on the aristocracy that change was imminent. Ideas such as Marxism, socialism, Chartism, liberalism, utilitarianism and humanitarianism were grafted into the bourgeoisie psyche. The period 1760-1830 saw an incresed concern for human unhappiness, and especially for that of the young. It was Peel who, stimulated by a Manchester physician, Thomas Percival, pressed on Parliament the need for regulation of the factories. His Act of 1802, the Health and Morals of Apprenticeships Act, limited hours of work and prescribed minimum standards of h

Popular unrest had its part in changing and guiding political reform. Riots and public disturbances were not uncommon during the time of 1811 to 1842. A new social consciousness towards liberalism in the work place made many workers form unions and lobby groups. These groups often organised strikes and demonstrations that sometimes ended in full-blown riots. In 1819 some sixty thousand-cotton workers meet at Peterloo to discuss poor working conditions and pay increases. The government had passed the Seditious Act to stop large groups of people congregating and therefore the army was deployed to break the meeting up. It ended in tragedy with eleven people killed and many injured. Likewise three years earlier in 1816 in Spa Fields a planned meeting addressed by Orator Hunt turned into a serious uprising when workers broke into a gunsmith's store. Soldiers too broke up this large disturbance. With many more riots and disturbances around this time it served as a warning to the nobility and social reform was implemented to appease the masses. Acts such as the Factory Act in 1833 saw a system of inspection set up to maintain higher levels of working conditions. It also forbade the employment of children less than nine years of age from working. Also the Poor Laws Act was passed in 1834 which meant that housing was built for the destitute. These changes helped improve strands of living but also emphasised the dramatic effect that popular unrest had on political change. The government was virtually left with no other choice but to reform social conditions or face the guillotine.

The fear of a people's revolution was foremost on the minds of the landed aristocracy in Britain during industrialisation. The French Revolution in 1789 saw people power topple the hierarchy due to calamitous living conditions and hunger. These events in France

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Approximate Word count = 1243
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Category: History