Starter activity

You are about to find out about life in eighteenth century Britain, on the eve of an event historians have called the ‘Industrial Revolution’. In order to understand what life was like then, it is a good idea to think about our lives today – where we live and what we do to earn a living. Discuss the above questions with your partner.

How many people live in

the UK?Who is

in charge

of running

the country?

How do people

get around

?

What are the most

important things the UK trades with other

countries to make

money?

How ‘Great’ was How ‘Great’ was Britain in 1750?Britain in 1750?

To find out about living and working To find out about living and working conditions in eighteenth century Britainconditions in eighteenth century Britain

To compare life in the C18th with life To compare life in the C18th with life todaytoday

To write an To write an ambassador’sambassador’s report on report on C18th Britain inC18th Britain in

Aims

Your task – Your task – copy the questions into copy the questions into your exercise book leaving 5 lines between your exercise book leaving 5 lines between

each one. Answer the questions based on the each one. Answer the questions based on the reading task your teacher gives you.reading task your teacher gives you.

1.1. How many people were there?How many people were there?

2.2. Who ruled the country?Who ruled the country?

3.3. How healthy were people? How healthy were people?

4.4. How did people get around?How did people get around?

5.5. How did people make money?How did people make money?

6.6. How ‘Great’ was Britain?How ‘Great’ was Britain?

How many people were How many people were there?there?

How do historians know how

many people lived in

Britain in 1750?

Who ruled?Who ruled?

1714-27 George I – German-1714-27 George I – German-speaker fabled for his lovers!speaker fabled for his lovers!

1727-1760 George II – 1727-1760 George II – preferred Germany, last King preferred Germany, last King to fight in battleto fight in battle

1760-1820 George III – 1760-1820 George III – English speaker, occupied English speaker, occupied Buckingham Palace, farmer Buckingham Palace, farmer GeorgeGeorge

Walpole

How healthy were How healthy were people?people?

Medicine & hygiene very primitiveMedicine & hygiene very primitive Killer diseases – pneumonia, Killer diseases – pneumonia,

bronchitis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, bronchitis, diphtheria, tuberculosis, cholera & smallpoxcholera & smallpox

Average life expectancy 30 yrsAverage life expectancy 30 yrs 15 in every 100 children died before 15 in every 100 children died before

11stst birthday birthday 1 in 5 mothers died1 in 5 mothers died

Bacteria

How did people get How did people get around?around?

‘‘We set out at six in the morning and didn’t We set out at six in the morning and didn’t get out of the carriages (except when we get out of the carriages (except when we overturned or got stuck in the mud) for 14 overturned or got stuck in the mud) for 14 hours. We had nothing to eat and passed hours. We had nothing to eat and passed through some of the worst roads I ever saw through some of the worst roads I ever saw in my life’in my life’This is a

description of a journey by

Queen Anne in 1704 from Windsor to

Petworth – a journey of 40 miles. What

does it tell us about transport

at the time?

How did people make How did people make money?money?

8 out of 10 worked in countryside8 out of 10 worked in countryside Subsistence farmingSubsistence farming Cottage industries - factories Cottage industries - factories

rarely employed more than 50 rarely employed more than 50 peoplepeople

Handmade – buttons, needles, Handmade – buttons, needles, cloth, bricks, pottery, bread etc.cloth, bricks, pottery, bread etc.

Developing towns – Liverpool, Developing towns – Liverpool, Birmingham, GlasgowBirmingham, Glasgow

How many objects do you have about you or can you see in the room that are handmade?

Welsh spinsters

How ‘Great’ was How ‘Great’ was Britain?Britain?

British empire growing – Canada, British empire growing – Canada, West Indies, Africa, India & AmericaWest Indies, Africa, India & America

Imported goods from plantations, Imported goods from plantations, e.g. cotton, tobacco & sugare.g. cotton, tobacco & sugar

Exported – cloth, pottery, metal Exported – cloth, pottery, metal goodsgoods

Pretend you are a foreign Pretend you are a foreign ambassadorambassador, sent on a trip to Britain , sent on a trip to Britain by a foreign king. You must prepare by a foreign king. You must prepare a report on Britain for your king a report on Britain for your king back home. Remember not to be too back home. Remember not to be too complimentary otherwise your king complimentary otherwise your king may get jealous!may get jealous! Include references Include references to population, government, health, to population, government, health, transport, industry and empire.transport, industry and empire.

Your taskYour task

SatisfactorySatisfactory GoodGood Wow factor!

Incomplete Incomplete range of range of references to references to life in life in Georgian Georgian BritainBritain

Full range of Full range of references, references, but some but some need need developing. developing. Some Some evidence of evidence of bias.bias.

Full and detailed range of references. Clear evidence of appropriate bias and register.

Your taskYour task

An advertising company has asked you to make An advertising company has asked you to make a 60 second commercial emphasising the a 60 second commercial emphasising the positive aspects of life in Britain in 1750. Try to positive aspects of life in Britain in 1750. Try to include references to all the following features:include references to all the following features:

PopulationPopulation GovernmentGovernment HealthHealth TransportTransport IndustryIndustry EmpireEmpire

George I (1714-27)George I (1714-27)

George II (1727-1760)George II (1727-1760)

George III (1760-1820)George III (1760-1820)