Unit I – Changing Life in Scotland and Britain
Context B 1830s-1930s
POPULATION
4 factors
birth rate (increases)
death rate (decreases)
immigration (increases)
emigration (decreases)
Increase in Population
increase in births
many marry young
little birth control
better diets
more children survived childbirth
cleaner water – fewer died from disease
medical improvements
Decrease in deaths
better town conditions
better and cheaper food
railways bringing in fresh food
cheaper imports
improved medical knowledge
increased gov’t laws on health
introduction of welfare provision
Decline in birth rate
people had fewer children (children had to go to school and therefore couldn’t work)
middle classes wanted better lifestyle so had fewer children
more knowledge of birth control
many men killed in First World War
Immigration/Emigration
Immigration led to a small increase in population (Irish)
Emigration led to a small decrease in population (Highlands)
Distribution
When people move from one part of the country to another
people left countryside for towns in search of jobs
jobs lost in rural areas due to introduction of machinery
people moved from Highlands to Lowlands looking for work
industries moved to areas with power sources e.g. water/coal
towns grew due to growth of population, movement of people and arrival of Irish
Effects
farms had to produce more food to feed growing population
transport had to improve to get food into the towns
industry had to create employment
social problems (e.g. housing) arose as towns became overcrowded
Notes
IRISH IMMIGRATION
Causes
Irish left to escape hunger (1845 famine)
not enough land
backward system of agriculture
widespread poverty
came to Britain in search of work in new industrial towns and railways
high in 1840’s
Where did they settle?
in new industrial towns e.g. Manchester
in old industrial towns e.g. Glasgow
near ports e.g. Liverpool
Living Conditions of Irish in Britain
very bad – overcrowded, damp
many blamed the Irish for these conditions
British reaction to the Irish
some welcomed the Irish. They were cheap labour and good workers.
Others were hostile. Irish were regarded as causes of disease, they were catholic and they lowered wages.
Impact of the Irish
Employment
did largely unskilled work e.g. coal mines, railways (navvies), canals
did seasonal work
prepared to take lower wages than Scots. This led to resentment from Scots.
Religion
most Irish were Catholic. This led to conflict with protestant Scots. Start of marches, riots and violence.
Sport
Irish stuck together. Formed their own football teams.
Social
many immigrants were poor, badly clothed and uneducated
not warmly welcomed and their arrival in large numbers caused problems. Lived in their own communities.
- shortage of housing. Most lived in overcrowded, damp homes.
many lived in poverty and resorted to stealing to make ends meet and alcohol to seek comfort
seen as a burden on parishes that had to pay out poor rates. Many asked to move on to next parish.
Notes
HIGHLAND POPULATION
Highland Clearances
took place in 18th and 19th centuries
landowner replaced people with sheep
led to depopulation of Highlands
Landowners argued this was necessary
growing population needed more clothes => demand for wool => more £ from sheep
faced debt as many tenants unable to pay rent
couldn’t afford to give handouts of £ and food to tenants
emigration was an attractive offer to escape poverty
Others disagreed
landowners were putting £ before humans
evictions were being carried out
cruel to burn down houses once evicted
landowners should have spent £ on improving their estate rather than paying for emigration
Effect
Highland communities broken
Young Scots left in search of jobs
Many joined army
Many emigrated encouraged by jobs, wages, land and better lifestyle.
Great Famine
1845 Irish potato famine spreads across Europe. Highlands badly affected
causes depopulation of Highlands
Crofters War
1870’s saw a decline in sheep markets
increase in deer hunting (Balmoralism)
over population of coastal villages
emergence of Gaelic league
Irish discontent
Grievances
Crofters were annoyed because they faced
eviction for no payment of rent
evicted to make way for deer
incoming tenants had to pay any outstanding debts
if no money stock was taken
deer hunters strayed onto land
shortage of land
Balmoralism
Poor living conditions – often built their own houses which had no windows. These were shared with cattle and straw floors.
Results
Highland league founded to fight for Crofters Rights
Disturbances in Highlands
Gov’t help
1884 Napier Commission
1886 Crofters Act
District Boards set up to help with issues
this led to Tourism in the area
But mass emigration from the Highlands continued
Notes
BRITISH EMIGRATION
Reasons for emigration
escape poverty
to start a new life
many had no choice – evicted
increase in population caused rural congestion
depression of 1870’s
discovery of gold in USA and Canada
Where did they go?
USA most popular destination
Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Result
if no emigration then population would have been too high
many emigrants returned
Scots were important to development of other countries
Scots Abroad
took their own language, culture, music and customs
took place names to new places
settled together and created Scottish communities
inter-married to keep Scottish identity
tension often arose between natives and Scots immigrants
Notes
AGARIAN REVOLUTION
Causes
growing population needed more food
open field system where 1 in 3 fields were not used wasn’t working
land and labour were wasted
not possible to rear cattle
healthy and unhealthy animals mixed together
not enough food for cattle
Main features
land organised into enclosures
machines introduced (new technology)
new methods e.g. improved breeding
Results
better use of land
better variety of food
less dependent on imports
BUT
enclosure of land was costly
many farmers became landless
labourers either went to towns looking for work, emigrated or ended up in workhouse causing more poverty
massive unemployment in rural areas
low wages for those left in farm work
machines were taking jobs
many lived in poor housing
evicted if didn’t pay rent
many lived in “tied-cottages”
many did seasonal work
Prosperity
farming in Britain prospered and changed
“high farming” 1846-1875 when lots of £ invested
farmers made £ by growing food for increasing population
railways allowed food to be delivered to a wider market
lack of foreign competition
USA and Canada not open
slow transport
wars
incentives to invest in farming
Depression
Reasons for this
growth of foreign markets – USA, Canada where there was more land
cheaper goods
wheat from USA
sheep from New Zealand/ Australia
dairy products from Holland/ Denmark
other countries have economic protection
refrigerated ships meant food could be transported
refrigeration meant food could be transported in bulk
Gov’t Intervention
set up a Royal Commission
1889 Board of Agriculture
1908 Act stopped drift away from land
World War 1
reduction of imports encouraged farmers to grow food
Gov’t gave farm workers a minimum wage
1917 Corn Production Act => Gov’t guaranteeing prices for grain
After World War 1
Gov’t passed measures
1929 Derating Act
subsidies to farmers
tariffs on foreign goods
1933 Agricultural Marketing Act encouraged sales
Milk Board set up
Notes
COAL MINING
Why was coal needed?
domestic purposes – fires in homes
industries to power machines
heat factories
transport – railways and steamships
lighting – coal gas used in street lamps
Industrial Revolution
changes to machinery to produce goods is known as the Industrial Revolution
increased the use of steam driven machines
factory systems
drift of population from rural to urban
changes in living and working conditions
focused on textile industry and coal and iron industry
Iron and Coal
Major problem was to find a fuel to smelt iron (make is flexible)
charcoal was no use and timber was running out.
Problem – made iron too brittle
Solution – use Henry Corts Puddling process which meant iron could be adapted and hammered into shape
This led to an increase in coal
Coal
more coal was needed so mines had to be deeper
Problems
|
Solutions
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Flooding
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Newcomers Pump and Watt Steam Engine
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Poor ventilation
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Buddle exhaust fan, second shaft
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Poor safety
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Davey’s safety lamp
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Gun powder/gas
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Safer explosions
|
Jobs in Mines
Trapper – opened trap door
Bearer – carried coal to surface
Hewer – cut coal
Putters – moved coal from Hewer
Drawer – pulled coal along mine floor
Changes in the Law
1842 Mines Act – no women and no children under 10
1862 no children under 12
1850 new safety rules, mines to be inspected
1872daily inspections
General Strike 1926
£ of coal fell
mine owners cut wages
Gov’t paid subsidy for 9 months
Gov’t subsidy ran out
Wages cut again
Miners went on strike
Railway and Transport workers went on strike in sympathy for first nine days
Miners went on strike for 6 months
1927 Trades Disputes Act – stopped other unions striking in support of other unions
Notes
HOUSING AND HEALTH
Housing Conditions
For the working classes in towns conditions were very bad.
OUTSIDE
lived in tenements built close together
houses were filthy and unhygienic
dogs roamed the streets, rubbish left on streets
no lighting
near factories which polluted air with smoke and fumes
INSIDE
overcrowded and damp
small – often no space for beds
poor ventilation and often no windows
no running water or toilets
infested with rats
sewers also infested with rats and spread disease
RESULT – poor health and spread of diseases like cholera, TB
Reasons for poor housing
towns built quickly, no planning
Gov’t followed policy of “laissez-faire” (leave well alone). It didn’t interfere with lives of ordinary people
Workers couldn’t force Gov’t to change
no effective Trade Unions
no Political Party to support workers till after 1900
no vote
few rights
many lived in “tied-houses”
evicted when on strike
didn’t recognise link between dirt and disease
Changes
19th Century Gov’t passed new laws
1868 Housing Act
1890 Housing Act – both these laws forced landlords to improve their properties
1875 Artisans Dwelling Act – gave town councils power to pull down slums
1875 Public Health Act – local authorities forced to lay sewers and drains, organise refuse collection, wash-houses, public baths and lavatories to be built. This was the first act that forced local authorities to improve public health
increased control of buildings to reduce slums and improve sanitation
councils began to provide housing to rent
better local services – better water, street lighting
Health
Health of working classes was poor.
lack of clean water
streets were dirty
doctors didn’t know causes or cures for many diseases
people didn’t eat enough good food
diseases like cholera, TB spread quickly in damp, overcrowded housing
low wages – couldn’t afford good food, visits to Doctors
unemployment
Improvements
better housing helped along with the slums being pulled down
agrarian revolution helped make better diets
expansion of railways meant fresh food could be delivered to the towns
improved water supply
1848 Public Health Act improved health
general improvements to medical knowledge
The very poor suffered the most and many lived in poverty. Many thought that it was the poor people’s fault but throughout the 19th century attitudes towards the poor changed. Also by the turn of the century the Gov’t attitude also changed.
Gov’t changes
Liberal Gov’t at start of 20th century was determined to improve conditions for the working class. A number of laws were passed
1906 Free School Meals Act
1907 Medical Inspection Act
1908 Old Age pensions Act
1909 Labour Exchange Act
1911 National Insurance Act
This was the start of the welfare state. The Gov’t was taking responsibility for the well being of its people.
In the 1930’s Britain suffered high unemployment. She lost many of her foreign customers during World War 1 and face stiff competition form countries that could make goods cheaper and faster than she could. The Gov’t took action
provided jobs by opening electrical and chemical industries
cleared slum housing
opened training centres to learn new skills
provided allotments so families could grow their own food
gave grants to poor people to help them move to areas with jobs
Notes
RAILWAYS
Growth
Railways started in the coal mines
1825 first steam powered railway Stockton – Darlington
1830 first passenger railway Liverpool – Manchester
1831 first Scottish line
1840’s saw “Railway Mania”
Growth was due to
encouragement from Gov’t 1844 Railway Act ensured a train ran on each line daily, that all fares were a penny a mile, all seats were protected from weather
private companies
demand for cheaper transport to deliver food
demand for leisure days/holidays
collapse of canal and coach systems
peak period of railway growth was 1844-1949
Supporters of the Railways
Farmers – land value would increase and they could sell their products to a wider market
Mine Owners- sell more coal
Factory owners – sell goods to wider market, transport cheaper so goods can be cheaper => increase in demand
Ordinary People – increased employment (navvies), better quality and cheaper food
Opposition to the Railways
Farmers/Land Owners – ruin vegetation, land value decrease, they would scare animals
Canal owners and coach companies said they would be put out of business. Said trains couldn’t run in storms!
Some Doctors said it was unsafe to travel at such speeds.
Technology
Used to improve safety of trains
first trains powered by steam – invented by George Stephenson
used iron rails instead of wooden ones, then changed to wrought iron, then concrete sleepers in 20th century
1834 signals were introduced
1874 heated carriages
1881 electrical lighting
1890 Forth Rail Bridge opened
1889 continuous brakes on all coaches
1902 electrical lights and signals
1906 dead Mans handle stopped train if driver was asleep
Effects
Economic
encouraged trade – cheaper transport
quicker transport - reduced cost
more trade and employment - demand for good increased
encouraged mobility of labour (you could travel to where work was)
growth of coal, steel and iron industries provided more jobs
railways provided more jobs
new industrial towns created
tourism developed
Social
people could travel
tourism meant people now went on holidays
travel broadens the mind
fresh food delivered so people were healthier
people moved to the suburbs and commuted to work
newspapers/postal service
Notes
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM
Reasons for change
People thought only parliament could change problem. As parliament was unable to it had to be changed
1789 French Revolution spread the idea of Democracy
problems with current system
majority of people not represented in Parliament
Parliament only made up of those who owned land
South of England over represented
Only 2% if population could vote
MPs didn’t get paid
Different rules across the country as to who could and could not vote
Changes
1832 Reform Act
increased the number who could vote (electorate)
gave vote to middle class
1867 Reform Act
working class men given vote (Conservative Gov’t thought this would make them popular)
electorate doubled to 2m
this weakened hold of parliament by aristocracy
1884 Reform Act
every male householder got the vote
electorate now at 5m
But, NO votes for
sons under 21 who lived at home
women
lodgers
1918 all males over age of 21 got the vote.
Notes
SUFFRAGETTES
Women Pre 1918
had no vote
often in exploited jobs
1882 married women got property owning rights
couldn’t be university graduates
middle class women not expected to work
not allowed to join the armed forces
some “male jobs” not open to women
Campaign to get the vote
1903 WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) set up by Christabel and Emmeline Pankhurst. Argued that since uneducated men, ex-convicts and drunks could vote they should be able to.
Non Violent methods
peaceful demonstrations
gathered petitions to parliament
heckled MPs at public meetings
However, these were not bringing success so they turned to militant methods to get attention and force the Gov’t to act
Militant methods
attacked property and famous figures
tied themselves to buildings, destroyed pillar boxes, cut telephone wires, smashed windows
hunger strike when in prison for above action
Emily Davison threw herself infront of the Kings horse
These methods also failed to bring success and give women the vote
Why did these methods not work?
Gov’t not prepared to give women the vote. Liberal Gov’t 1906-1914 thought it might loose them votes
Resistance – people thought that women’s place was in the home
Many thought that women were acting irresponsibly with the methods they were using
Cat and Mouse Act
Gov’t took a hard line over militant action
Many suffragettes were arrested
1913 Cat and Mouse Act – if women in prison went on hunger strike and too ill to be in prison, they were released. Once they were fit and healthy again they would be re-arrested and put back in prison to finish serving their time.
World War One
Suffragettes stopped campaign when war broke out
Supported Gov’t against the common enemy – Germany
Joined in the war effort
Women get the vote
Due to the war effort Women over age of 30 were granted the right to vote in 1918
In 1928 this was extended to women over 21
Notes
WOMEN AT WAR
Women and War
during the war women took over many jobs left vacant by men who were away fighting
women worked
in munitions factories (weapons)
as nurses and helped the wounded
joined armed forces as clerks and typists
joined Land Army to help produce food
became bus drivers, taxi drivers, worked in factories
Position of Women
This changed during the war
women became independent – for many this was the first time they had worked and earned money
fashion changed – work they were doing in heavy industry changed what women wore
many worked for the Gov’t
gave up suffragette cause- this reduced the opposition to them getting the vote
1918 Representation of the People Act
Due to their effort in the war women were given the right to vote
1918 all women over 30 could vote and all men over 21 could vote. (many men died during the war and if women got vote at 21 they would be too influential)
women had to be tenants, landowners or house owners
female lodgers had NO vote
1928 Representation of the People Act
all women over 21 got the vote. Now the same as men.
Notes
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