Urban and Rural Protest

Pre-1832 only the rich could vote.

Post-1832 middle class enfranchised.

Absence of political power limited choices for the working class.

'Popular protest' - collective protest by working/middle classes of society at a local or even national level to express a view in attempt to change things. 

• A new 'middle class' emerged with the new industries with wealth based on industry. 
• Urban not rural.
• Resented lack of political power.
• Bottem end of the scale: semi or unskiled industrial workers

• Industrialisation had a major effect upon the health of the nation.
• Population increase from 10 million in 1801 to 32.5 million in 1901.
• Urban centres (eg Manchester) had increasing population due to movement of agricultural labourers seeking work. 
  • Could not cope with increasing size.
  • Local govt unable to administer the new towns effectively.
• Poor town planning, overcrowding and generally poor living conditions.
  • Lack of clean water, disease was widespread and cholera was recurrent. 

• Industrial system was different in two crucial ways:
  
  • working day was far more rigidly organised
  • major loss in independence
• Generally poor conditions.
  
• Craft skills superseded by machines.
• Low pay.
• Child labour.

• "The greatest happiness of the greatest number of people."
• This could be achieved in 2 ways:
  • Government and administration had to be made as efficient as possible. Anything inefficient must be modernised. 
  • Laissez-faire guiding principle of government. A minimum amount of interference within the lives of individuals.

• A desire for greater efficiency emerged which prompted reform.
• Social reform was necessary as British society had very poor living and working conditions - needed to maintain political stability.
• Lower class still lacked major political power. 
• Reforms dictated from above. 
• Needed to improve education as there was a need for more advanced techniques and skilled labour to maintain Britain's economic position.

• Economic problems - low wages, industrial/agricultural depression
• Political concerns - lack of vote, political context
• Social issues - poverty, living/working conditions, social class
• Religious conflict - issues for Catholics and Non-Comformists
• Local/regional issues - local grievances
• Government action - changes in policy or the law