Essay About The Changes Britain Saw Between 1750 and The 1900’s

      The British Empire did not exist before the 1700’s, however gradually one was founded until it grew so big that the ‘sun never set on the British Empire, this is said because they took over countries all across the globe, when it was at its peak it owned Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, United Kingdom (obviously), South Africa, Falkland Islands, Egypt and Namibia. In many cases Britain exploited other countries for tea and cotton, however good did come out of it, admittedly mainly for Britain. It changed the diet of the British, they had never drunk tea before but now it was being imported from India, also cocoa, sugar, wheat and coffee became available. In fact as a result sugar was included to many different foods which would normally being devoid of any, in the 1700’s the British ate four pounds of sugar each. (At the time if you ate sugar you were seen as rich and wealthy, many therefore painted their teeth black so they would be admired). By 1800 this had increased to an incredible eighteen pounds, this led to many severe dental problems. Also Britain became known as the ‘Workshop of the World’ because they became so powerful and invented so many machines that they took over other countries’ businesses and produced everything, nowadays ‘made in China’ is written on the bottom of everything, back then it was ‘made in Britain.’ Britain’s exports to Western Europe and U.S.A between 1851 and 1901 decreased from twenty percent to seven percent and its exports to Africa between 1851 and 1901 increased considerably from seventy percent to eighty-six percent. As a result Britain became very wealthy exporting so many goods to so many countries and it in fact became the wealthiest country in the world and very powerful also. However the countries being taken over by Britain did benefit as the British technology advanced theirs and replaced theirs.

      The ordinary man became more powerful. In the 1700’s there were only two parties: the Tories and the Whigs, neither being for the peasants needs or rights. The parties would be owned by rich landowners who would force the peasants to vote for their parties, many punishments would be conducted if needed, until they do so. Therefore the peasants never received want they wanted such as power. Various acts were passed by the Parliament to change these affairs, in 1867 town householders got the vote, by 1884 country householders received the vote, in 1919 women over 30 were given the vote. The Representation of the People Act 1928 was an act passed by the Parliament to change these affairs, it allowed all men and women over twenty one to have the vote. A labour party was formed by Keir Hardie to meet all the things required by the working class. This was important because it meant peasants were no longer being forced to do this or that, they were given power and therefore could earn more money in better paid jobs and control their own lives and in election put forward their views which should then satisfy everyone.

      The main changes in Britain between the 1700’s and the 1900’s were the changes in power, the founding of the British Empire and the increasing in population. I think  the power transferring to the working class is the most important one because with this power they can change everything, they can make parliament improve their working conditions, improve the living conditions: fight off cholera and typhoid. Without this change children would still be forced to labour away, in terrible conditions, and as food became less special as costs of goods reduced the poor can still look after themselves without their children working. It also gave them education, a vital foothold into society, this raised them up until it becomes clear that they are equal to everyone else, for we are all humans. With education they could study and aim for a high job where they could earn more money and no longer be poor. From this change in power they no longer be different and the title ‘working class’ may melt away.