The French Revolution had a huge impact on European politics; originally, there were two empires, one being the British Empire, and the other, the Great Scottish Empire. Scotland was in financial and psychological trouble after its disastrous attempt at setting up a colony in Central America in 1698. They also attempted and failed in New Caledonia and Daren, costing them a huge chunk of their wealth. The act of union in 1707 however, joined the two.
England surprisingly did not suffer any major set backs by the French Revolution, although there was the introduction of income tax in 1799 which was set up to pay for the effects of the war.
By putting blockades at the French ports, Britain had managed to destroy French trade, creating a boom for British exports, which led to, Britain manufacturing many productsm, including the French army’s uniform. Ironic. As other European armies were occupied, Britain sneakily started building its empire.
The Transatlantic Triangular Trade came in the form of slavery, cotton and sugar and was greatly profitable for Britain. In the 16th Century 1 million slaves were transported from Africa to America, this number grew in the 17th Century to 3 million and finally in the 18th century to a whopping 7 million. The end of the war however, also meant the end of this financial boom, causing widespread unemployment, and a dramatic decrease in wages. Corn laws were then introduced to put a tariff on imported grain. Britain was in trouble.
That was until the Industrial Revolution struck, and transformed Britian in its entirety. Manchester was at the centre of the revolution, and between the years of 1760 - 1830, the population of the city alone rose from 17,000 to 180,000.
As a result of the industrial revolution, Landowners had to expand for newer and bigger machinery. Initially, this land was considered a 'common land' which was an open area for the livestock of local villagers, giving them the opportunity to sustain a livelihood that kept them above the breadline. However, thousands of farmers were left landless as a result of this “policy of enclosure” and therefore driven in to cities such as Manchester in the pursuit of a job, leading to the severe increase in population.This had its own downfall, as such a vast increase in population ensured that there was a shortage of adequate housing, food, heating and general sustenance. This also led to the increase of diseases such as TB, meningitis, and cholera, to mention but a few.
“The Peterloo Massacre” took place in 1819. As, the political corruption involved in the notion that Less than 2% of the population were allowed to vote at this time, became evident, around 60,000 protesters sick of the injustice, demanding parliamentary reform set foot, but were met by a cavalry who charged at them, and as a result hundreds suffered serious injuries and 11 faced their deaths. The general pupblic would continue to protest, and the government would eventually agree to their needs.
The New Poor Law Act was introduced in 1834 and it stated that no able bodied person was to receive money or any other form of help from the poor law authorities unless they were in a workhouse. Conditions in these workhouses were disgustingly poor as a form of prevention and discouragement, and many reports of abuse were recorded.
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