Prof.ssa Cynthia Tenaglia

This process had began withThis process had began with

• The exploitation of the New WorldThe exploitation of the New World

• Commerce and TradeCommerce and Trade

• Availability of CapitalAvailability of Capital

Aristocracy showed Aristocracy showed a sense of a sense of enterpriseenterprise not found in the not found in the aristocracy of the other aristocracy of the other European countriesEuropean countries

They They invested their moneyinvested their money to to improve Productionimprove Production

The Enclosure ActThe Enclosure Act

Enclosure Acts allowing Landowners to fence off their holdings, so no more common land for the landless poor

( before they could collect wood or graze their animals)

“Enclosed” Lands Today

“Enclosed” Lands Today

transformed the commercial production changing the old working techniques and transforming a whole way of life

James Watt’s Steam Engine

James Watt’s Steam Engine

An Early Steam Locomotive

An Early Steam Locomotive

Communication was made easier

Later LocomotivesLater Locomotives

The Impact of the Railroad

The Impact of the Railroad

Early CanalsEarly Canals

Britain’s Earliest Britain’s Earliest Transportation Transportation InfrastructureInfrastructure

Steam ShipSteam Ship

Steam TractorSteam Tractor

New scientific techniques applied to farming

Jacquard’s LoomJacquard’s Loom

These inventions destroyed the old domestic weaving and spinning , introducing the method of factory production.

Textile FactoryWorkers in England

Textile FactoryWorkers in England

The Power LoomThe Power Loom

Young “Bobbin-Doffers”

Young “Bobbin-Doffers”

Metals, Woolens, & Canals

Metals, Woolens, & Canals

Coalfields & Industrial Areas

Coalfields & Industrial Areas

Industrial Staffordshire

Industrial Staffordshire

Industrial Staffordshire

Industrial Staffordshire

• EpidemicsEpidemics, like cholera, , like cholera, thyphoid, caused a high thyphoid, caused a high mortality in towns. They mortality in towns. They came to a peak in the came to a peak in the Great Great StinkStink of 1858. of 1858.

• This expression was used to This expression was used to describe the terrible smell in describe the terrible smell in London, coming from the London, coming from the ThamesThames..

The “Great Stink”

Caricature appearing on the magazine «Punch» in 1858

The Victorian Age

Only Connect ... New Directions

Early-19c Londonby Gustave Dore

Early-19c Londonby Gustave Dore

slums

Worker Housing in Manchester

Worker Housing in Manchester

The New Industrial City

The New Industrial City

Overcrowding

Lack of sanitation

Factory Workers at Home

Factory Workers at Home

Starvation wages

The Factory SystemThe Factory System

× Rigid schedule.Rigid schedule.

× 14-16 hour day.14-16 hour day.

× Dangerous conditions.Dangerous conditions.

× Monotony.Monotony.

Stereotype of the Factory Owner

Stereotype of the Factory Owner

What was life like for a poor child in What was life like for a poor child in cities and towns in the 1840’s?cities and towns in the 1840’s?

• Most children had to Most children had to work to help their work to help their families earn enough families earn enough money to live. money to live. Employers used Employers used them as cheap them as cheap labourlabour

FactoriesFactories

• The youngest children in The youngest children in the textile factories were the textile factories were usually employed as usually employed as scavengers and piecersscavengers and piecers. . Scavengers had to pick up Scavengers had to pick up the loose cotton from under the loose cotton from under the machinery. This was the machinery. This was extremely dangerous as the extremely dangerous as the children were expected to children were expected to carry out the task while the carry out the task while the machine was still working.machine was still working.

FactoriesFactories

• Piecers had to lean Piecers had to lean over the spinning-over the spinning-machine to repair the machine to repair the broken threads. broken threads.

• Many children Many children suffered serious suffered serious accidents.accidents.

Young Coal MinersYoung Coal Miners

Child Labor in the Mines

Child Labor in the Mines

Child Child “hurriers”“hurriers”

Chimney sweepersChimney sweepers

• Chimney sweepers used young Chimney sweepers used young boys to climb chimneys and clean boys to climb chimneys and clean away the soot. They were often away the soot. They were often burned or hurt.burned or hurt.

19c Bourgeoisie: The Industrial Nouveau

Riche

19c Bourgeoisie: The Industrial Nouveau

Riche

Because of the need of financial support , people willing to invest their money became really important in economic life

Criticism of the New Bourgeoisie

Criticism of the New Bourgeoisie

This new economy was This new economy was supported by economists such supported by economists such

as as Adam Smith ( 1776)Adam Smith ( 1776) with with his theory of his theory of “ Laissez Faire”:“ Laissez Faire”:

• Free trade:Free trade: Man is free to pursue his Man is free to pursue his interest, government doesn’t have to interest, government doesn’t have to interfere.interfere.

• Freedom Freedom in the international tradein the international trade

• No duties and monopolistic No duties and monopolistic privileges.privileges.

Adam SmithAdam Smith in his in his

“ “ Wealth of Nations”Wealth of Nations”

stated the end of all government stated the end of all government regulations of internal and regulations of internal and

external tradeexternal trade , , in the belief that in the belief that the free play of individualism the free play of individualism

always worked out for the bestalways worked out for the best

• Upper and Middle class ,and the Upper and Middle class ,and the Church saw the misery of the poor Church saw the misery of the poor as an inevitable social evilas an inevitable social evil..

• Only towards the end of the Only towards the end of the century Charity schools openedcentury Charity schools opened

• Women started to ask for more Women started to ask for more rights, Mary Wollstonecraft rights, Mary Wollstonecraft demanded better education.demanded better education.