The People's Health: Industrial Britain (1750-1900)

• What was a key feature of the Industrial Revolution in Britain from 1750 to 1900?


  Steam engines were used to power machinery
• What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on coal demand?

  The demand for coal increased, leading to new mines and canals for transportation
• How did factory chimneys contribute to urban pollution during the Industrial Revolution?

  Factory chimneys belched out smoke, creating thick smog over streets
• What additional sources of pollution were present in people's homes during the Industrial Revolution?

  Smoke from coal fires and chimneys added to the pollution
• What was a common issue faced by children working in factories during the Industrial Revolution?

  Children worked in poor conditions and accidents were frequent
• How did railways affect food supply and pollution in Britain by 1850?

  Railways covered much of Britain and brought fresh food to towns but added to pollution
• What was the population of Britain in 1750?

  Approximately 6 million
• What was the population of Britain by 1900?

  Approximately 37 million
• What was the relationship between agricultural improvements and food supply during the Industrial Revolution?

  Improvements in agriculture meant people did not starve
• Why did working-class families struggle to maintain a healthy diet during the Industrial Revolution?

  Wages were not enough for a healthy diet
• What was a common dietary issue faced by the poor in cities during the Industrial Revolution?

  It was difficult to buy fresh and safe food
• How did new scientific thinking influence society during the Industrial Revolution?

  It challenged religious views and led to a more secular society
• Who proposed the theory of evolution that challenged the creation story in the Bible?

  Charles Darwin
• What significant discovery did Louis Pasteur make in 1861?

  Harmful germs could enter the human body and cause disease
• What did the Education Act of 1870 provide?

  Schools for all children below the age of 10
• What was the Victorian attitude towards the poor during the Industrial Revolution?

  Victorian attitudes stressed self-help and discouraged welfare for the unemployed
• Why did working-class people crowd into slums during the Industrial Revolution?

  To be close to the factories where they worked
• How did alcohol addiction affect society's view of working-class people?

  It hardened society’s attitudes towards them
• What was a common living condition in towns and cities during the Industrial Revolution?

  Overcrowding
• How did overcrowding contribute to health issues in urban areas?

  It helped to spread disease
• What was the cheapest accommodation available during the Industrial Revolution?

  Rented cellar
• What type of housing was common and poorly constructed during the Industrial Revolution?

  Back-to-back housing
• What health issues were caused by the lack of fresh air and sunlight in homes?

  Infections and lung-related diseases
• How did damp walls in houses contribute to health problems?

  Damp walls helped to cause tuberculosis
• How were water companies regulated during the Industrial Revolution?

  Water companies were unregulated by authorities
• What sources did water companies use for their supply during the Industrial Revolution?

  Ponds, rivers, and streams
• What diseases were prevalent due to dirty water during the Industrial Revolution?

  Typhoid and cholera
• When did people begin to understand the connection between dirty water and disease?

  Until the end of the 19th century
• What was a major issue with sewage during the Industrial Revolution?

  Sewage was mixed with drinking water
• What was the consequence of not having enough privies for the growing population?

  Human waste flowed onto the streets causing disease
• How did privies contribute to public health issues?

  Privies collected waste which built up until they overflowed
• How many families typically shared one privy in industrial streets?

  Over 10 families
• What was a negative consequence of improvements made to sewage systems?

  New sewers emptied waste into rivers where water companies collected 'fresh' water
• What was the diet of the industrial working-class like?

  It was poor and led to malnutrition
• What were common components of the working-class diet during the Industrial Revolution?

  Potatoes, bread, butter, beer, and tea
• Why was it difficult for the working-class to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables?

  It was often difficult to obtain them in towns
• What was the carbohydrate content of the working-class diet necessary for?

  Needed for long hours of labour
• What was the state of government regulation regarding food quality until the end of the 19th century?

  There was no government regulation of food quality
• What was a common issue with the quality of meat during the Industrial Revolution?

  It could be poor, sometimes from diseased animals
• What was the prevailing belief about disease in the 1830s?

  The miasma theory suggested disease was spread by poisoned air