AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Britain, c1783–1885 – Political change and social reform, 1832-1846…
Full specification wording
1F Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885 – Political change and social reform, 1832-1846 (A-level only): The Whig response to social change; social reforms including: education, factory legislation, abolition of slavery, the Poor Law Amendment Act, the Municipal Corporations Act
The Whig response to rapid social change was characterised by utilitarianism and evangelicalism, aiming for efficiency rather than pure humanitarianism.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Whig response to rapid social change was characterised by utilitarianism and evangelicalism, aiming for efficiency rather than pure humanitarianism. Their reforms were extensive: the 1833 Factory Act restricted child labour, while the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act ended slavery in the British Empire, compensating owners. In education, they introduced the first state grant of £20,000 in 1833. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established the harsh workhouse system to reduce poor rates, reflecting utilitarian principles. Finally, the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act reformed local government, replacing corrupt oligarchies with elected councils, thereby extending middle-class political influence in urban areas.
What earns the marks
- Detail the provisions and limitations of the 1833 Factory Act, noting its focus on child labour rather than adult working hours.
- Explain the motivations behind the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, highlighting the influence of utilitarianism and the desire to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers.
- Assess the significance of the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act, including the £20 million compensation paid to slave owners rather than the enslaved.
- Evaluate the impact of the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act on local government and the shift of power towards the urban middle classes.
- Identify the 1833 education grant as a pivotal, albeit modest, shift towards state intervention in social welfare.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act was designed to improve the living conditions of the poor.
Put it right: State that its primary aim was to deter pauperism and reduce the poor rates through the principle of less eligibility.
Stating the Whigs abolished the slave trade in 1833.
Put it right: Clarify that the slave trade was abolished in 1807; the 1833 Act abolished the institution of slavery itself across the British Empire.
Assuming the 1833 Factory Act introduced a universal ten-hour working day.
Put it right: Specify that the Act only regulated the working hours of children and young persons, not adult men.
Exam tips
- Link specific reforms to underlying ideologies, such as connecting the Poor Law Amendment Act to Benthamite utilitarianism.
- Use the £20,000 education grant as evidence of the beginning of state intervention, contrasting it with previous laissez-faire attitudes.
- Discuss the Municipal Corporations Act as a logical extension of the 1832 Reform Act, consolidating middle-class power at the local level.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1F Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885 – Political change and social reform, 1832-1846 (A-level only): The Whig response to social change; social reforms including: education, factory legislation, abolition of slavery, the Poor Law Amendment Act, the Municipal Corporations Act lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary principle introduced by the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 regarding the treatment of the able-bodied poor?
Listen
The Whig response to rapid social change was characterised by utilitarianism and evangelicalism, aiming for efficiency rather than pure humanitarianism. Their reforms were extensive: the 1833 Factory Act restricted child labour, while the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act ended slavery in the British Empire, compensating owners. In education, they introduced the first state grant of £20,000 in 1833. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established the harsh workhouse system to reduce poor rates, reflecting utilitarian principles. Finally, the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act reformed local government, replacing corrupt oligarchies with elected councils, thereby extending middle-class political influence in urban areas. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Detail the provisions and limitations of the 1833 Factory Act, noting its focus on child labour rather than adult working hours. Explain the motivations behind the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, highlighting the influence of utilitarianism and the desire to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers. Assess the significance of the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act, including the £20 million compensation paid to slave owners rather than the enslaved. Evaluate the impact of the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act on local government and the shift of power towards the urban middle classes. A common slip: Claiming the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act was designed to improve the living conditions of the poor. Instead, State that its primary aim was to deter pauperism and reduce the poor rates through the principle of less eligibility. Exam tip: Link specific reforms to underlying ideologies, such as connecting the Poor Law Amendment Act to Benthamite utilitarianism.
See it
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Factory Act restricted child labour
- 2. Municipal Corporations Act reformed local government
- 3. Poor Law Amendment Act established the workhouse system
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
State intervention versus laissez-faire
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Utilitarianism and social control
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Humanitarianism and evangelical influence
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The shifting balance of class power
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- State intervention versus laissez-faire
- The 1833 education grant is identified as a pivotal, albeit modest, shift towards state intervention in social welfare, contrasting it with previous laissez-faire attitudes.
- Utilitarianism and social control
- The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established the harsh workhouse system to reduce poor rates, reflecting utilitarian principles, and its primary aim was to deter pauperism and reduce the poor rates.
- Humanitarianism and evangelical influence
- The Whig response to rapid social change was characterised by utilitarianism and evangelicalism, aiming for efficiency rather than pure humanitarianism.
- The shifting balance of class power
- The 1835 Municipal Corporations Act reformed local government, replacing corrupt oligarchies with elected councils, thereby extending middle-class political influence in urban areas.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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Test your understanding of 1F Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885 – Political change and social reform, 1832-1846 (A-level only): The Whig response to social change; social reforms including: education, factory legislation, abolition of slavery, the Poor Law Amendment Act, the Municipal Corporations Act
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