Coal, of which the nation was a major producer, literally fueled the Industrial Revolution and enabled Great Britain to become a leading manufacturer and exporter. Cities grew, populated by factories and factory workers, while mines throughout the countryside churned out the black fuel that stoked the fires of industry.
The Industrial Revolution was accompanied by a shift toward democracy and capitalism. Though England remained a limited monarchy, the lower classes were able to rise in standing through education and work. Primary and secondary schools opened across the nation, training people to staff the new industries. Previously, only the upper classes typically attended secondary school and class status was relatively fixed; a working-class family remained in the working class and a landed family remained in the nobility, regardless of income bracket. As the children of the lower and middle classes began attending college and achieving financial success in the cities, class lines blurred.
While creating changes for the better in many respects, heavy industry and the capitalist economy also produced its share of casualties. Accidents as well as respiratory diseases contributed to a high rate of premature death among miners, and illness victimized the larger population as well.
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