Ireland

Over the next half century the Protestant parliament in Dublin passed laws to prevent the Catholics from taking any part in national life: they couldn’t be a member of parliament, couldn’t vote, become a lawyer, go to university, catholic schools were forbidden. By the 1770s, however, life had become easier and some of the worst laws were removed. In order to increase British control Ireland was united with Britain in 1801, and the Dublin parliament closed. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland lasted for 120 years.

Life in town and country

In 1770 England and Wales had a population of about 5.5 million, by the end of the century including Ireland and Scotland the total population was about 13 million. In 1700 England was still the land of villages.

The towns smelled bad, there were no drains and dirt was thrown strait to the streets. The poor were buried together in large holes. During the century the efforts were taken to make the life healthier. Streets were built wider for carriages to pass each other, from 1734 London had a street lighting system.

There were four main classes of people in 18^th century towns: the wealthy merchants; the ordinary merchants and traders; the skilled craftsmen; the workers with no skill and constant work.

In eighteenth century families began to express affection more openly. But girls stayed victims of fashion to have slim bodies, tight wastes and pale appearances. The growing individualism showed itself in the desire of privacy.

Industrial revolution

By the early 18^th century simply machines had already been invented for basic jobs - mass production became possible. The next step for industrial revolution was fuel – not wood, but coal to transform iron into good steel and iron – Britain became the leading iron producer. In 1764 a spinning machine was invented. But this machinery forced a lot of people out of work. Riots occurred, led by the unemployed who had been replaced by machines.

The slavery was abolished by law in 1807, but in colonies it was ended in 1833.

In 1793 Britain went into war with Napoleon (later than other countries). Admiral Horatio Nelson beat the French army at Copenhagen (Egypt) and Trafalgar (1805). In 1805 a British army landed in Portugal to fight the French. The leader was Wellington. After several victories he invaded France.

The nineteenth century

Britain in the nineteenth century was at its most powerful. British factories were producing more than any other country in the world. Britain’s empire was political and the power was used to control large areas.

After Napoleonic war in 1815 there was no longer such a need for factory-made products and many lost their jobs. The army officers also became unemployed.

The Whigs (Liberals) wanted enough change to avoid revolution. In 1832 the Lords (after the Commons) accepted the Reform Bill. Working together unions put forward a People’s Charter in 1838. The Charter demanded rights that are now accepted by everyone: the vote for all adult, the right for a man without property to be a MP, an election every year. All of these demands were refused by the House of Commons.

The country became powerful because it had enough coal, iron and steel which could be exported and used to produce heavy industrial goods. Woolen and cotton cloth was cheap and very good, it was also exported a lot. Nearly half the world’s total shipping belonged to Britain. The industrial empire was supported by a strong banking system.