Progress and poverty : an economic and social history of Britain, 1700-1850

BL The only general textbook to examine the social and political implications of the economics of the period British society and the British economy underwent major structural change over the period from 1700 to 1850, as population moved from agriculture and rural life to industry and towns. Unlike previous textbooks on this period, written either from a social and political standpoint, or about economics in the abstract, this book incorporates the work of social and political historians with revisionist work on British economic growth. It stresses the connections between the economy and debates over public policy, and examines the regional variations in agriculture and industry, with particular attention to the differences between England and Scotland. Much revisionist work concerns the operation of assumed national markets; the aim of the book is to show how these markets were formed, and how a national economy was created. Martin Daunton gives a clear and balanced picture of the continuity and change in the early development of the world's first industrial nation. This book is intended for students and sixth-formers studying eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British history; good overview for teachers and lecturers. Courses on British Economic History/the Industrial Revolution. British Society And The British Economy Underwent Major Structural Change Over The Period From 1700 To 1850, As People Moved From Agriculture And Rural Life To Industry And Towns. Unlike Previous Textbooks On This Period, Written Either From A Social And Political Standpoint, Or About Economics In The Abstract, This Book Incorporates The Work Of Social And Political Historians With Revisionist Work On British Economic Growth. It Stresses The Connections Between The Economy And Debates Over Public Policy, And Examines The Regional Variations In Agriculture And Industry, With Particular Attention To The Differences Between England And Scotland. Much Revisionist Work Concerns The Operation Of Assumed National Markets; The Aim Of The Book Is To Show How These Markets Were Formed, And How A National Economy Was Created. 1. Introduction: The Possibilities Of Growth -- 2. Agricultural Production: The Limits Of Growth? -- 3. The Rise Of The Great Estates And The Decline Of The Yeoman -- 4. Open Fields And Enclosure: The Demise Of Commonality -- 5. Diversities Of Industrialization -- 6. The Domestic System Of Manufactures -- 7. The Coming Of The Factory -- 8. Furnaces, Forges, And Mines -- 9. Capital And Credit: Financing Industrialization -- 10. Integration And Specialization -- 11. Transport -- 12. Merchants And Marketing -- 13. Banks And Money -- 14. Demand, Supply, And Industrialization -- 15. Births, Marriages, And Deaths -- 16. The Standard Of Living And The Social History Of Wages -- 17. Poor Relief And Charity -- 18. The Visible Hand: The State And The Economy -- 19. Taxation And Public Finance -- 20. Mercantilism And Free Trade -- 21. Conclusion. M.j. Daunton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is a major college text. It will become prescribed reading for anyone studying British history in the 18th and 19th centuries. The book examines the massive structural change, the creation of national markets, and the economic growth which characterized the movement from agriculture to industry. In 1700 Britain was a rural country. By 1850, the year before the Great Exhibition, it was'the workshop of the world'. The debate on the relationship between poverty and progress is at the core of this clear and wide-ranging analysis of the world's first industrialized nation. In 1700, Britain was a rural country. By 1850, the year before the Great Exhibition, it was 'the workshop of the world'. This book examines this change, the creation of national markets, and the economic growth which characterized the movement from agriculture to industry. It is useful for anyone studying 18th and 19th century British history.