Video 1 England was being changed by the industrial revolution. After napoleon empire, it had no competitors in its expansion. England increased trade and industry, and fast turned from an agriculture country to a predominantly manufacturing country importing raw materials from the colonies by England ships end by its own canals. England used them in factories and then exporting the finished products. Invention like Hargreaves’ spinning jenny accelerated production (textile), and Watt’s steam engine that could be used in all sorts of application and became the main source of energy. The change, also, caused hardship in the labouring class: in the factories they worked long hours and were poor paid. The factories created competition among the unemployed. The industrial revolution happened at first in England because: the agricultural revolution proceeded with the industrial revolution for exemple because technical innovation improved farming; because of an increase in the population resulted in an increase in cheap labour; possessions abroad that provided access to cheap raw materials; because of the coal and iron in Britain; technological innovation meant textile innovation; free trade theory, with the government shouldn’t interfere with the economic. This policy favoured the middle class and capitalism, but like before caused problems to the poor. After the congress of Vienna the nation suffered distress. During the war the government increased the demand for war munitions, but when the war ended, the government didn’t require these commodities. Supply of labour. There was also a sort of war debt, and in attempt to reduce this debt, the tory government passed the importation act or corn law to protect British agriculture by prohibiting the importation of grain (grano) from abroad. Result: rise of the price of bread. Rich businessmen made fortune, but poor suffered hunger. Higher duties were applied, and to prevent disorder, public meetings of workers were made illegal by the combination act which abolished the combination of workers into trade unions (sindcati), but didn’t stop men. Luddites (lavoratori che protestano) attributed their problems to technological innovations, so they destroyed weaving frames. The government suspended the habeas corpus act and arrested radical leaders. Also in 1819 when a demonstration was organized in menchester, an unarmed crowd of protesters was violently dispersed by charging cavalry. This happened is known as Peterloo massacre.
