Industrial+revolution+and+the+rise+of+the+bourgeoisie

The Socio-Economic Context ==Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the Bourgeoisie ==
 * In the 16th and 17th centuries, Britain was undergoing wholesale changes in economic structure, with the pace of change increasing dramatically in eighteenth century.
 * Britain went from largely agricultural to manufacturing based economy.
 * These changes were powerd by James Watt's refinement of the steam engine and James Hargreaves's invention of the spinning Jenny that promoted a boom in industrialisation.
 * Population swelled in and around urban manufacturing plants such as these.
 * At the beginning of the 1770s, a quarter of the population resided in urban centres. In 1801 this was a third of the population, and by the 1840s, almost half of the English population resided in cities.
 * A general rise in the overall population fueled the industrial revolution by providing both consumers and producers.
 * The aforementioned industrialisation shifted paradigms ( a "paradigm shift" if you will) of a class structure based upon a noble class at the top and everyone else keeping in their place below. Meanwhile those at the head of the pyramid, factory owners, engrossed in business and commerce grew wealthy as a result and this enabled them to exert their power.
 * This proposed an alternative to the preconceived idea that you had to be part of the "landed gentry" in order to possess wealth, but respectability was less easily earned. It might take two or three generations before the taint of anyone in the family having being "in trade" was removed and the source of the fortune forgotten.
 * The industrial revolution may have increased social mobility and certainly it allowed for the increased and now greatly more efficient production of goods. As a result of this it devastated large portions of England's lower classes (Agrarian and serfs) whose lifestyle had been superseded. In the late 18th and 19th centuries a series of Enclosure Acts resulted in the conversion of what was in the past common land into what became a substantial and monolithic privately owned (monopolised) farms. It wasn't new, it had been introduced in the middle ages, Britain as a result of population pressures and the transition into a mercantile economy.
 * Leading literary figures of the day, particularly Barbauld, sought to ameliorate the inequities that had become so charactertistic of English life. Her sympathies were like a delicious contrast to the criticism of the priviledged upon the lower classes.
 * Wordsworth became the figurehead of Brit Romanticism lessened focus on the struggle instead replaced by focus on the hearts and minds of rural common folk.
 * In 1815 the instigation of land profiteers' endorsed government **'Corn Laws',** a substantial tariff on imported grain greatly increased the cost of imports. Furthermore the effect of this was inflated prices and the street urchins suffered until repealed in 1845.
 * Adam Smiths' work of economic philosophy 'the wealth of nations 1777' encouraged a Laissez-faire approach regulated treatment of employees and working conditions. This meant shifts of as much as 15 hours for little kiddies ... cute ones too.
 * Working conditions were attrocious due to unsanitory conditions unfettered polution and by the time Victoria came to the thron parliament had already been pressed to take a succession of members to subjsequently restrict the abuse of children. Legislation was largely ineffective.
 * Luddites, pronouced La-Dyt-s. Followers of the imaginary 'general Ned Ludd' who attacked and broke machinery during the years 1811 - 1816 sometimes to force concessions from their employers but sometimes to express their dissatisfaction with creeping mechanisation. Coercion acts were passed in 1817 to stifle this dissent which only served to provide public antagonism in London and Scotland where groups advocated revolution.
 * For most of this period the upheivals of this period found little reflection in the English government, where the Tories held sway from 1783 - 1830 with only one short interruption. They were a conservative party who upheld law, tradition and preservation of political and social order ... at least in their eyes DUM DUM DAAA!!.
 * For most of this period the upheivals of this period found little reflection in the English government, where the Tories held sway from 1783 - 1830 with only one short interruption. They were a conservative party who upheld law, tradition and preservation of political and social order ... at least in their eyes DUM DUM DAAA!!.


 * "I think I could eat one of Bellamy's veal pies" - Prime Minister William Pitt, who died soon after from his problems with alcohol.

"For entree, waiter, i would like a Corn Law with a Bourgeoisie sauce." "And for the lady?" "A tariff and mistreatment of the poor." "The after dinner public antagonism is from London and Scotland today would one want to have a taste or spark revolution? I must advise the sir that any children present will be denied such opportunities and may be required to serve a 15 hour shift in our kitchens." "I think the veal pie main and extreme alcoholism will do us fine thank you." "Yes sir, may you have a wonderfully subjective dining experience"

"MMM CORN LAWS!" Source: The Age of Romanticism

The Rise of the mercantile class in England-By Synthura Sandrasegaran The importing and exporting of certain products banned to allow merchants within the country to make a profit keeping the money and the goods within the country. "We must always take heed that we buy no more from strangers than we sell them, for so should we impoverish ourselves and enrich them." When the British Empire expanded Merchants begun looking to newly colonized countries to expand their trade. Exotic goods that Britain had never before seen were being traded. This included tea, cotton, silk, opium, saltpeter (potassium nitrate) and many more. “England's treasure by foreign trade or, the balance of our foreign trade is the rule of our treasure".   This decade is said to be the peak of mercantilism as mercantilist policies were embraced by what is known as the ‘Long Parliament’, lead by Charles 1.  Queen Elizabeth established merchant and naval fleets to expand trade beyond Britain and as a result, formed the British Empire.  Baring establishes a cloth company which becomes one of the richest trading companies in England  At the start of the 19th century, investing in the stock market became a growing trend and triggered a huge boost in the economy.   **  Reflection Statement  **  The rise of the mercantile class was what de-established Feudal England. Previously the difference between the classes were huge, the peasants served the Lord and were dependant on the Lords for survival. The merchant trend was a new way of providing for themselves, hence it destroyed the feudal system as a middle class was created. It also challenged the traditions of the past as. The once dependant peasants were now fairly well off middle class peoples and the Lords no longer had people to provide food for them and people to exercise power over. The once extremely contrasting social statuses became more dispersed with the introduction of the middle class. The rise of the merchants was also a fundamental driving force for the beginning of the Renaissance and the end of the middle ages. The rise of the merchants was also one of the key triggers for the eventual establishment of the British Empire which became largest empire holding 25% of the world’s land. The forming of the East India Company was a key event in the development of the British Empire. Britain began colonizing areas in East Asia and trading exotic goods such as spices, silk, cotton and opium. These new lands changed the people of England’s view on the world; many saw the outer world as a place of wonder rather than alien and barbaric lands.
 * The rise of the merchants begun towards the end of the Renaissance. England was ne of the first countries to have merchant trading on a large scale.
 * ** __1539 – Importing and exporting of certain products banned__ **
 * ** __1549 -__ **** __ Discourse of the Common Weal of this Realm of England embraces mercantilism __ **
 * ** __1600 – East India Trading Company established.__ **
 * ** __1630 – Thomas Mun explains balance of trade__ **
 * ** __1630 – 1640- Mercantilist policies introduced__ **
 * ** __Sometime during her reign, Queen Elizabeth establishes naval fleets__ **
 * ** __1717 – Johann Baring establishes his company and becomes one of the most successful merchants__ **
 * ** __1800 – The rise of stock holders__ **