changes in society

• population movement

  • the population rose from 9.5M in 1750 to 41.5M in 1900. in 1750 people mainly lived in villages scattered throughout the countryside. By 1900 most people lived in towns that has grown throughout the period
• work & travel

  • in the 1800's most people made a living doing farm work but by the end of the 19th century most people were employed in mills and factories in large towns and cities.
  • developments in transport meant people and goods could move around quicker and cheaply
• wealth and taxes

  • two centuries of industrial growth made Britain a very wealthy country yet the majority of the population was poor and life was very difficult for them. The government collected taxes which were used to continue to develop in infrastructure of the country e.g transport, education etc
• gov & rights

  • by the 19th century people became more accepting of the gov involvement in their lives. However, people also wanted more of a say in how the country was run.
  • wanted the right to vote in general elections so that the gov would be forced to consider the needs of ordinary people
  • pressure groups campaigned through this period to improve lives e.g working conditions, working hours, healthcare etc
• education

  • in the 18th century only a small minority of children attended school.
  • low literacy rates
  • but by 1850 70% of the population could read and write. This rose to 95% by 1900.
  • A law in 1880 meant school was compulsory for all children up to 13
  • But despite these advancements, opportunities were still limited
• New ideas about human nature

  • during the 18th century, new ideas emerged about human nature some argued that improving peoples education, living and working conditions might encourage better behaviour
  • some started making the link between poverty and crime and saw people weren't always responsible for the situation they found themselves in
  • by the middle of the 19th century, Charles Darwin theory of evolution had begun to be accepted in society
  • this made people believe that there was a criminal class in some way less evolved than other people
• crimes- extent of change

  • highway robbery caused by civil war, travellers feared them
  • poaching, social crime, protected the walthy
  • poaching wasn't completely new due to forest laws by William
  • FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGE: a.i.s
• punishments


  • transportation- less harsher than d.p so juries would convict
  • bloody code abolished
  • prison- bad working conditions
  • FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGE: gov. a.i.s
• law enforcement


  • previous law enforcement didn't work
  • revolutionary change
  • gov was in control rather than local community
  • metropolitan police force
  • FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGE: gov, individuals, growth of towns