What Made Britain so Different from the Rest of Europe Before 1850?
What made Britain so different from the rest of Europe before 1850?-
By 1850, Britain had changed in a number of social and economic ways, for a variety of reasons, primarily the industrial revolution as the historians O’Brien and Quinault argue that Britain ‘represented a potent “example” for Western Europe and the United States of what could be achieved’ highlighting British superiority and influence. The consequences of this momentous event can still be seen in Britain and around the world today due to the technological and scientific discoveries and innovations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The development of British industry consequently led to significant differences between Britain and other European countries such as France and Portugal, however, the industrial revolution was not the single contributing factor to these differences. The expansion of the British Empire changed British society and ultimately led to greater power and influence over Europe, alongside important events such as the Napoleonic Wars, which in turn led to naval and military supremacy, as Britain were affected less negatively in comparison to other European countries. This essay will argue that Britain was different to Europe before 1850 as a result of the industrial revolution and its consequences, the expansion of the empire and the Napoleonic Wars.
It can be argued that Britain was different from the rest of Europe before 1850 as a result of the industrial revolution; however, one may argue that this was the case before the advent of industrialization. This can be attributed to the fact that the Industrial Revolution occurred primarily in Britain, rather than in any other European country, emphasising that there were significant differences in order for this to occur. Many historians will argue that Britain was the ideal nation for the events of the Industrial Revolution to occur in as the Agricultural Revolution had preceded it, therefore, productivity of the land
By 1850, Britain had changed in a number of social and economic ways, for a variety of reasons, primarily the industrial revolution as the historians O’Brien and Quinault argue that Britain ‘represented a potent “example” for Western Europe and the United States of what could be achieved’ highlighting British superiority and influence. The consequences of this momentous event can still be seen in Britain and around the world today due to the technological and scientific discoveries and innovations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The development of British industry consequently led to significant differences between Britain and other European countries such as France and Portugal, however, the industrial revolution was not the single contributing factor to these differences. The expansion of the British Empire changed British society and ultimately led to greater power and influence over Europe, alongside important events such as the Napoleonic Wars, which in turn led to naval and military supremacy, as Britain were affected less negatively in comparison to other European countries. This essay will argue that Britain was different to Europe before 1850 as a result of the industrial revolution and its consequences, the expansion of the empire and the Napoleonic Wars.
It can be argued that Britain was different from the rest of Europe before 1850 as a result of the industrial revolution; however, one may argue that this was the case before the advent of industrialization. This can be attributed to the fact that the Industrial Revolution occurred primarily in Britain, rather than in any other European country, emphasising that there were significant differences in order for this to occur. Many historians will argue that Britain was the ideal nation for the events of the Industrial Revolution to occur in as the Agricultural Revolution had preceded it, therefore, productivity of the land
Bibliography: * Asa Briggs, ‘Manchester, Symbol of a New Age’, Victorian Cities. (New York and Evanston: Harper and Row, 1970) pp. 88-138. * N.F.R. Crafts, The Industrial Revolution: Economic Growth in Britain, 1700-1860. * Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844, (Cosimo Inc., 2009) * Valerie Hansen, Kenneth Curtis, Kenneth R * Eric Hobsbawm, History of Civilisation: The Age of Revolution, Europe 1789-1848 (London, 1969) p. 29. * Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. * Patrick O’Brien and Roland Quinault, The Industrial Revolution and British Society (Cambridge University Press, 1993) p. 231. * Glenn Porter, ‘Industrial Revolution.’, Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. (Microsoft Corporation, 1999) -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. Patrick O’Brien and Roland Quinault, The Industrial Revolution and British Society (Cambridge University Press, 1993) p. 3. [ 2 ]. Eric Hobsbawm, History of Civilisation: The Age of Revolution, Europe 1789-1848 (London, 1969) p. 29. [ 3 ]. Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. [ 4 ]. Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. [ 5 ]. Patrick O’Brien and Roland Quinault, The Industrial Revolution and British Society (Cambridge University Press, 1993) p. 231. [ 6 ]. Asa Briggs, ‘Manchester, Symbol of a New Age’, Victorian Cities. (New York and Evanston: Harper and Row, 1970) pp. 88-138. [ 7 ]. Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844, (Cosimo, Inc., 2009) [ 8 ] [ 9 ]. Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. [ 10 ]. N.F.R. Crafts, The Industrial Revolution: Economic Growth in Britain, 1700-1860 [ 11 ] [ 12 ]. Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. [ 13 ]. N.F.R. Crafts, The Industrial Revolution: Economic Growth in Britain, 1700-1860. [ 14 ]. Joel Mokyr, ‘The Industrial Revolution’, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, (Oxford University Press, 2003) vol. 3, pp. 49-56. [ 15 ]. Valerie Hansen, Kenneth Curtis, Kenneth R Curtis, Voyages in World History, Volume 2, (Cengage Learning, 2003) p. 664.