18th Century Manchester Dbq Essay

Entrapped under thickening layers of smog, the streets of 1800s England was the first time the world has seen such devastating effects of environmental pollution. Enveloping the city was the morbidly dark sky—ought it to be day or night had never been such an oblivion to the common passerby. The cause dates back to 18th century England; separated by a sea, England was able to avoid intervention in the conflicts plaguing continental Europe during this time. Revised quarantined measures to prevent the Black Death from further spreading along with the revolutionary agricultural innovations that emerged during the Agriculture Revolution, England was among the first countries to experience a major population increase. Such population increase consequently

Over the course of a century, Manchester evolved from a town of nothing extraordinary into the country’s vital trading centre. Comparing the maps of Manchester in 1750 to that of 1850, it is evident that not only has the city increased in approximately five times of size but also has built canals and railroads that pierce through the city at all angles (Document 1), including the famous Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Such expansion in urban development and increase in mobility allowed for industries to thrive; as a result, the economy prospered. Being granted a royal charter in 1852, Manchester came to be known as the “Workshop of the World”. In terms of “commerce and manufacture”, it had surpassed “any other town in the British Dominions or indeed the world.” (Document 9) Now an international trading hub, Manchester’s economy was surging with prosperity. Consequently, the living standards of people were improving at a great speed as well. “People live longer… are better fed, better lodged, better clothed, and better attended in sickness”, all thanks to the “increase in national wealth which the manufacturing system has produced.” (Document 3) Evidently, the increased wealth of the nation is positively correlated to the living standards of the average civilian. With that being said, both these responses came from those of upper-class: one a business

It first started with demonstrations: rallies and protests took place as labourers developed a “dangerous spirit of discontent with the Government” for many were dissatisfied with the unrealistic prices on grain thanks to the Corn Laws. The Corn Laws were instituted to assist local producers, and since the majority of lands were owned by companies due to the enclosure movement, most of the wealth went to the upper-class. Similarly, industrialization benefited not the workers the most, but instead the company owners; the “triumphs of machinery” and its “gain and glory” were to be only derived by “wealthy Liverpool and Manchester men.” (Document 4) Protests like such continued until the government began responding to the cries of the people. Under the “Hours of Labor in Factories Act” passed in 1844, work hours had been reduced to “ten hours per day” and “wages… have largely increased”. Various establishments, such as public parks, baths, and free libraries, had been built to “[promote] the health happiness and culture” of society. As a result, murmurs of discontent were diminished to a minimum and “sickness and mortality have been reduced to an extent that is almost incredible.” (Document 10) That being said, the English government had also been pushed to the brink of their power; due to the growing popularity of Socialism and later Marxism, the