CAMBRIDGE AS HISTORY: THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BY 1800. POLITICAL EFFECTS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION UP TO 1850.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
THEINDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTIONBY1800
2.4 POLITICALEFFECTSOFTHE
INDUSTRIALREVOLUTIONUPTO1850

3. THE 18TH CENTURY
Britain: monarchy with some constitutional controls; power in the
hands of nobility (wealthy landowners).
France: absolute monarchy.
Germany: rulers of states had absolute control.
Effects of industrialisation: created a middle class (industrialists) that
demanded political power and a working class that wanted to improve
conditions by gaining political rights.

5. BRITAIN
1832 Reform Act: some industrial towns given the right to elect
members of parliament; franchise extended to property owners (i.e.
factory owners as well as landowners).
Chartists: 1836 – London Working Men’s Association formed by
William Lovett – wanted political rights for working class; put down by
government.
Changes in later 19th century: most of the Chartists’ demands were
eventually met; working-class men given the vote; secret ballots in
elections; constituencies set up to reflect distribution of population;
growth in power of trade unions.

7. FRANCE
July Revolution 1830: poor harvests and unemployment upset working
class; middle class angry about lack of voting rights and free trade; King
Charles X replaced by Louis Philippe.
1848: economic problems and unrest; government refused to extend
franchise to lower middle class and working classes; Louis Philippe ed
to Britain.
Second Republic 1848–52: All men over 21 given the right to vote;
reforms of employment conditions; wealthier people alarmed and
Napoleon III became emperor in 1852.
1870: revolution against Napoleon III.

9. GERMANY
1848 revolutions: universal male suffrage granted to Prussian Landtag,
although Prussia remained an authoritarian state controlled by king
and landowners.
Bismarck: fearing an alliance between working and middle classes,
Bismarck gave working men the vote and created welfare state.

11. MARXISM
The Communist Manifesto 1848: written by Karl Marx and Friedrich
Engels; predicted a revolution by the proletariat (industrial working class).
Influence: stronger in France and Germany than in Britain.