During the course of the nineteenth century, Manchester, England, became a leading textile manufacturing center after its first mechanized cotton mill and the world’s first industrialized city. As a result of the tremendous growth its population increased from 18,000 in 1750 to over 300,000 by the census of 1851, much of this made up of the working class and immigrants. As seen in History of Manchester, there is a massive development growth throughout the whole city in just a hundred years (doc.1). In the 1832 Reform Bill, Manchester was granted representation in Parliament and middle-class men received the vote. Manchester was also granted a royal charter, after Queen Victoria’s visit in 1851. Although the industrialization of Manchester was necessary for the development of the modern world, it had also brought up a lot of issues with it. Technological advancements, Health of the citizens, and poor working conditions became major issues raised by the growth of Manchester, and people reacted to these issues in both negative and positive ways.
Some of the issues raised because of the growth of Manchester are Technological advancements, Health of the citizens, and poor working conditions. An example of the issues is in Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain, it talks about the diseases, filth, overcrowding, bad ventilation, and short lives of the labouring classes (doc. 6). Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain is a questionable source since it is written by a public health reformer. This is because he need to emphasize the negative, since these are the problems that need reforming. He also could’ve exaggerated them a bit, since it’s his job. Another issue is the massive development growth of the city from 1750 to 1850 (doc.1). The final issue is in The Lancet, a British medical journal, by a medical reformer, which states the average age at death, and concludes that the labourer/artisan were incredibly young at death (doc.8). This most likely is a reliable source since it was published in The Lancet; however, since it is published by a reformer, he could have picked the most unfair statistics.
Those that reacted in a negative way against the growth of Manchester were numerous and demanded many changes. An example of a negative reaction is in Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society, written by an English Romantic poet who tells of how Manchester has no beauty and is ugly(doc 2). Another negative reaction was in Journeys to England and Ireland, by Alexis de Tocqueville, and he said it was foul, filthy, and civilized man is turned back into a savage (doc.5). Although there is evidence stating that the city looked horrible and people were unhappy; Alexis would over exaggerate that because he is a French visitor. This is because of the fact that France and England were not on good terms after the wars. Flora Tristan, a French socialist and women’s rights advocate, also had a negative reaction; she asked if all the progress was worth it with all physical suffering and moral degradation (doc.7). This source is also questionable, for the reasons of her being French and also she could have been over exaggerating the living conditions because she was publishing this journal. She also was socialist, which could make this some sort of socialist propaganda. The final negative reaction was the view from blackfriars bridge, the Graphic, which is a painting showing the horribly depressing and polluted city of Manchester (doc.11). This painter could have picked the worst view possible, since he works at a weekly magazine dealing with social issues.
Although most of the reactions were negative, there were still some positive reactions regarding the growth of Manchester. One of these was Thomas B. Macaulay, a liberal Member of Parliament, who responded to Robert Southey, criticizing him that he shouldn’t compare manufactures with beauty and how peasants have always lived horrible lives (doc. 3). He is obviously saying that because he is a member of parliament and only wants to increase the efforts of manufactures and agriculture to boost up the growth of England, without caring about the effects of it. Another example is Wheelan and Co., who is promoting the growth of the industry, “Perhaps no part of England, not even London, presents such remarkable and attractive features as Manchester, the workshop of the world” (doc.9). Of course Wheelan and Co. is going to say that Manchester is remarkable and attractive, because they are a business and this is a preface to a business directory. The last positive reaction was William Alexander Abram, who talks about how the conditions for factory labourers has been vastly improved and overall everything is improved; however, he is writing this in 1868 (doc. 10).
From the information provided above, Technological advancements, Health of the citizens, and poor working conditions were major issues raised by the growth of Manchester, and people reacted to these issues in both negative and positive ways. The Industrial Revolution changed the environment for everyone’s life. The revolution changed energy usage, public health, natural resources, and social improvements as we know it. Over time, Machinery began to replace manual labour, increasing production of houses, food, clothing and more. Adam Smith, whose book, "The Wealth of Nations" became the backbone for modern capitalism and the new industrialism. Great Britain started as the industrial leader of the world; however over time it lost its edge to the United States.
Some of the issues raised because of the growth of Manchester are Technological advancements, Health of the citizens, and poor working conditions. An example of the issues is in Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain, it talks about the diseases, filth, overcrowding, bad ventilation, and short lives of the labouring classes (doc. 6). Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain is a questionable source since it is written by a public health reformer. This is because he need to emphasize the negative, since these are the problems that need reforming. He also could’ve exaggerated them a bit, since it’s his job. Another issue is the massive development growth of the city from 1750 to 1850 (doc.1). The final issue is in The Lancet, a British medical journal, by a medical reformer, which states the average age at death, and concludes that the labourer/artisan were incredibly young at death (doc.8). This most likely is a reliable source since it was published in The Lancet; however, since it is published by a reformer, he could have picked the most unfair statistics.
Those that reacted in a negative way against the growth of Manchester were numerous and demanded many changes. An example of a negative reaction is in Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society, written by an English Romantic poet who tells of how Manchester has no beauty and is ugly(doc 2). Another negative reaction was in Journeys to England and Ireland, by Alexis de Tocqueville, and he said it was foul, filthy, and civilized man is turned back into a savage (doc.5). Although there is evidence stating that the city looked horrible and people were unhappy; Alexis would over exaggerate that because he is a French visitor. This is because of the fact that France and England were not on good terms after the wars. Flora Tristan, a French socialist and women’s rights advocate, also had a negative reaction; she asked if all the progress was worth it with all physical suffering and moral degradation (doc.7). This source is also questionable, for the reasons of her being French and also she could have been over exaggerating the living conditions because she was publishing this journal. She also was socialist, which could make this some sort of socialist propaganda. The final negative reaction was the view from blackfriars bridge, the Graphic, which is a painting showing the horribly depressing and polluted city of Manchester (doc.11). This painter could have picked the worst view possible, since he works at a weekly magazine dealing with social issues.
Although most of the reactions were negative, there were still some positive reactions regarding the growth of Manchester. One of these was Thomas B. Macaulay, a liberal Member of Parliament, who responded to Robert Southey, criticizing him that he shouldn’t compare manufactures with beauty and how peasants have always lived horrible lives (doc. 3). He is obviously saying that because he is a member of parliament and only wants to increase the efforts of manufactures and agriculture to boost up the growth of England, without caring about the effects of it. Another example is Wheelan and Co., who is promoting the growth of the industry, “Perhaps no part of England, not even London, presents such remarkable and attractive features as Manchester, the workshop of the world” (doc.9). Of course Wheelan and Co. is going to say that Manchester is remarkable and attractive, because they are a business and this is a preface to a business directory. The last positive reaction was William Alexander Abram, who talks about how the conditions for factory labourers has been vastly improved and overall everything is improved; however, he is writing this in 1868 (doc. 10).
From the information provided above, Technological advancements, Health of the citizens, and poor working conditions were major issues raised by the growth of Manchester, and people reacted to these issues in both negative and positive ways. The Industrial Revolution changed the environment for everyone’s life. The revolution changed energy usage, public health, natural resources, and social improvements as we know it. Over time, Machinery began to replace manual labour, increasing production of houses, food, clothing and more. Adam Smith, whose book, "The Wealth of Nations" became the backbone for modern capitalism and the new industrialism. Great Britain started as the industrial leader of the world; however over time it lost its edge to the United States.