Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History

    Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015

    Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 Industrial- isation in Ulster,…

    Full specification wording

    Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 Industrial- isation in Ulster, 1825–55: The importance of the textile industry in Ulster; the decline of the woollen and cotton industries; the impact of railways and mechanisation on the linen industry.

    The textile industry was central to Ulster's economy, with linen becoming dominant.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 3

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The textile industry was central to Ulster's economy, with linen becoming dominant. Woollen production declined due to competition from Yorkshire and lack of mechanisation. Cotton spinning initially grew but collapsed under English competition and the loss of protective tariffs. Railways, such as the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway (1845), reduced transport costs and expanded markets. Mechanisation, including power looms and wet spinning, increased output but caused handloom weavers' wages to fall. By 1850, linen employed over 100,000 people. The decline of woollen and cotton shifted resources to linen, while railways and mechanisation transformed production, making Ulster a global linen leader.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains the dominance of linen in Ulster's economy and its export markets.
    • Analyses the reasons for the decline of the woollen industry, such as competition from Yorkshire and lack of mechanisation.
    • Assesses the decline of cotton spinning due to English competition and the removal of protective tariffs.
    • Evaluates the impact of railways, like the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, on reducing transport costs and expanding markets for linen.
    • Explains how mechanisation, including power looms and wet spinning, increased output but affected handloom weavers.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Stating that the woollen industry declined because of a lack of wool.

      Put it right: It declined due to competition from Yorkshire and failure to mechanise.

    • Claiming that cotton spinning continued to grow after 1825.

      Put it right: It declined sharply from the 1820s due to English competition.

    • Saying railways had little impact on the linen industry.

      Put it right: Railways significantly reduced transport costs and opened new markets, boosting linen exports.

    Exam tips

    • Use specific examples such as the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway to illustrate the impact of railways.
    • Link mechanisation to social changes, such as the decline of handloom weavers, to show deeper understanding.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 Industrial- isation in Ulster, 1825–55: The importance of the textile industry in Ulster; the decline of the woollen and cotton industries; the impact of railways and mechanisation on the linen industry. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which textile became the dominant industry of Ulster during the period 1825–55?

    Listen

    The textile industry was central to Ulster's economy, with linen becoming dominant. Woollen production declined due to competition from Yorkshire and lack of mechanisation. Cotton spinning initially grew but collapsed under English competition and the loss of protective tariffs. Railways, such as the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway (1845), reduced transport costs and expanded markets. Mechanisation, including power looms and wet spinning, increased output but caused handloom weavers' wages to fall. By 1850, linen employed over 100,000 people. The decline of woollen and cotton shifted resources to linen, while railways and mechanisation transformed production, making Ulster a global linen leader. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the dominance of linen in Ulster's economy and its export markets. Analyses the reasons for the decline of the woollen industry, such as competition from Yorkshire and lack of mechanisation. Assesses the decline of cotton spinning due to English competition and the removal of protective tariffs. Evaluates the impact of railways, like the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, on reducing transport costs and expanding markets for linen. A common slip: stating that the woollen industry declined because of a lack of wool. Instead, it declined due to competition from Yorkshire and failure to mechanise. Exam tip: Use specific examples such as the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway to illustrate the impact of railways.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. At the top, a node states that the textile industry was central to Ulster's economy. Three arrows lead from it to three nodes: the woollen industry declines, cotton spinning declines, and linen becomes dominant. Arrows from both the woollen decline and the cotton decline also point to linen becoming dominant. Two further nodes feed into linen becoming dominant: one for railways, naming the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway of 1845, and one for mechanisation, naming power looms and wet spinning. From linen becoming dominant an arrow leads to a node for increased output and expanded markets. Separately, an arrow from the mechanisation node leads to a node stating that handloom weavers' wages fall.
    Shows how the decline of woollen and cotton, railways and mechanisation all fed into the dominance of linen in Ulster.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. At the top, a node states that the textile industry was central to Ulster's economy. Three arrows lead from it to three nodes: the woollen industry declines, cotton spinning declines, and linen becomes dominant. Arrows from both the woollen decline and the cotton decline also point to linen becoming dominant. Two further nodes feed into linen becoming dominant: one for railways, naming the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway of 1845, and one for mechanisation, naming power looms and wet spinning. From linen becoming dominant an arrow leads to a node for increased output and expanded markets. Separately, an arrow from the mechanisation node leads to a node stating that handloom weavers' wages fall.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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    Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 Industrial- isation in Ulster, 1825–55: The importance of the textile industry in Ulster; the decline of the woollen and cotton industries; the impact of railways and mechanisation on the linen industry.

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