Industrial Revolution: Innovations and Social Changes
Iron Industry: Two major changes occurred. The first involved the fuel used to heat the furnaces where iron was produced. Due to deforestation, coal replaced wood. This led to the simultaneous development of the iron industry and coal mining. Mines were known for their poor working conditions, including child labor.
James Watt’s invention of the steam engine significantly increased furnace heat. By the early 19th century, this technology was also used in boats and ships.
Communications
Efficient production and sales were crucial. While Roman roads were still in use, two major innovations emerged: one concerning roads and the other concerning canals.
The Victorian Age and the Second British Empire
Victorian Period (1815-1851)
(Science played a very important role.)
1815 (the Battle of Waterloo, ending the Napoleonic Wars) – 1851
The Crystal Palace, a prefabricated building, hosted the Great Exhibition of 1851. This event marked the beginning of a new era, the Victorian Age. The palace showcased the latest inventions, symbolizing progress, though the period also had its share of social challenges.
The period between 1815 and 1851 was a time of analyzing the social conditions. A significant social gap existed between the wealthy and the poor. It was a period of:
Reformation
Solutions were needed to address social disparities. In 1832, The Great Reform consolidated several changes:
- Politics: Before the reform, Parliament had 658 seats, representing counties and “boroughs.” The main problem was the “Rotten Boroughs”: small towns with disproportionate representation. Large cities lacked representation, while other areas retained outdated representation. This unequal distribution of seats necessitated reform. Two hundred boroughs were disenfranchised (lost their representation). Four hundred boroughs were semi-disenfranchised (allowed only one member in Parliament). New boroughs, typically industrial, gained representation.
- Electorate: The number of electors remained around 1800 because property qualifications still excluded most working men. Only householders paying a yearly rental of £10 or more could vote.
- Criminality: The criminal code was reformed. The death penalty was abolished in over 100 cases. Previously, minor offenses like stealing an apple could result in hanging. The criminal age was also addressed, as children as young as 12 could be treated as adults. Another measure was the creation of police forces in industrialized areas, initially to suppress acts of rebellion.