Social developments: effects of industrialisation; standards of living and working class discontent
Industrialisation changed how ordinary people lived and worked, often for the worse. Low wages, dangerous factories, and rising food prices drove workers to protest and resist.
Real World
The Luddite uprisings of 1811–13 saw framework knitters in Nottinghamshire smashing stocking frames because mechanisation had cut their wages by two-thirds, forcing the government to deploy more troops than Wellington had in the Peninsular War.
Exam Focus
When assessing working-class discontent, distinguish economic grievances (wages, prices) from political ones (lack of representation) to show analytical precision.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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