Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform - 2 Industrialis-…

The idea

Industrialisation transformed Britain's economy and society between c1785 and c1870. Banking and investment grew to finance railways, factories and trade, creating a new industrial middle class of manufacturers, merchants and financiers. Economic regions diversified: Lancashire specialised in cotton, Yorkshire in wool, the Midlands in metalworking, and London in finance and commerce. Industrial towns and cities expanded rapidly, with Manchester's population rising from about 25,000 in 1772 to over 300,000 by 1851, bringing overcrowding and poor sanitation. Government attitudes shifted from laissez-faire to limited intervention, with factory acts and public health measures.

What earns the marks

• Explains the growth of banking and investment, including the role of country banks, joint-stock banks and railway investment.
• Describes the emergence of a new industrial middle class, including manufacturers, merchants and professionals, and their increasing wealth and influence.
• Analyses the diversity of economic regions, giving examples such as cotton in Lancashire, wool in Yorkshire, and metalworking in the Midlands.
• Explains the growth of industrial towns and cities, including population growth, urbanisation and associated social problems.
• Assesses government attitudes towards industrial development, including laissez-faire, factory legislation and public health reforms.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming that government adopted a completely hands-off approach.

  Put it right: It intervened through factory acts and poor law reforms.

• Treating industrialisation as uniform across Britain.

  Put it right: Regions developed different specialisms and experienced different rates of growth.

• Ignoring the social costs of urbanisation, such as overcrowding and disease, when discussing economic growth.

• Confusing the industrial middle class with the working class.

  Put it right: The former owned or managed enterprises, while the latter provided labour.

Exam tips

• Use specific regional examples, such as the Lancashire cotton industry or the South Wales ironworks, to illustrate diversity.
• Quantify urban growth with approximate figures, for example Manchester's population increase, to show the scale of change.
• Link government attitudes to specific legislation, such as the 1833 Factory Act or the 1848 Public Health Act.
• Consider both economic benefits and social costs when assessing the impact of industrialisation.