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Georgian Britain: 1714 to 1837
The Georgian Age was a period of tremendous by the end of the eighteenth century the British ruled a huge and strong empire. Cheap raw materials, such as cotton and sugar, flooded into Britain from its colonies. Whilst new machines turned the raw materials into finished goods, new farming methods were used to produce more food to feed the growing population. All this brought a startling change to the british landscape. The old open fields were enclosed with walls and hedges. Coal mines, iron foundries and canals were cut into the countryside. New roads were built. And new towns began to grow up as people came to work in the factories.
This book tells the story of the people, events and achievements of Georgian Captain Cook, industrial and agricultural change, roads, canals and railways, the empire and slavery, the American War of Independence, Nelson's navy, social reforms, and much more.
This book tells the story of the people, events and achievements of Georgian Captain Cook, industrial and agricultural change, roads, canals and railways, the empire and slavery, the American War of Independence, Nelson's navy, social reforms, and much more.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 10, 1994
38 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Langley
379 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 2, 2020
I do enjoy theses History of Britain series when written by Andrew Langley. He gives plenty of background and historical detail and as such he has plenty to write about in 'Georgian Britain'.
For whatever else was happening in the world, there were very many changes, both politically and socially, in Britain in the period 1714 to 1837. And in 1714 when Queen Anne died, the question was, 'Who will rule Britain?' Anne's half brother James was one choice but he was a Roman Catholic and Parliament would not a allow a Roman Catholic king. So the crown was offered to George of Hanover, a German but a protestant, who was the great grandson of King James I. He was duly crowned in October 1714 and the Georgian era began ... and ended 123 years later when William IV died.
The changes encompassed all sorts of things, machines were invented that turned the imports of cheap raw materials from Britain's colonies into finished goods much more quickly than previously. And British traders grew rich selling the goods all over the world. Better farming methods were used to produce more food to feed the ever-growing population and these new methods brought with them other changes. The open fields were enclosed with walls and hedges, coal mines, iron foundries and canals were cut into the countryside and much needed new roads were built. In addition new towns sprung up as people made their way to work in the new factories that had been created.
Andrew Langley covers all this and more in 48-delightful pages, beginning with 'The Britain of Walpole'. When Walpole began his political career the country facing a huge national debt of £54 million. Walpole, after saving many an important dignitary from the ignominy of bankruptcy following the collapse of the South Sea Company, was made Prime Minister, the first in British history. He remained in charge until 1742.
During his time in office he made every effort to save money all round and reduce that national debt and he succeeded as Britain began to prosper. Business was expanding, pedlars carried goods to sell all over the country and farmers took their animals to market. Other workers went to the towns to find work as servants or street traders as these jobs were better paid than farm workers. The cities grew fast, the population of London rose to more than half a million and places such as Plymouth, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow became big towns.
Roads were improved immensely, turnpikes where a toll was paid were eventually abandoned as men such as Thomas Telford and John Macadam developed better methods of road building. Transport by river, canal, and sometime later, by train, was used to transport huge loads of coal, iron and other materials. The first canal was built by James Brinkley in 1759 and in the following 50 years over 6,000 kilometres of new canals were dug, forming a network that linked the main industrial towns with London and the sea ports.
The navy was Britain's strongest fighting force, as evinced by Admiral Nelson, Wellington fought and defeated Napoleon, Captain Cook explored the Southern Pacific Ocean, British forces fought, and lost, the American War of Independence while in the arts, Jane Austen became the most famous lady author, Samuel Johnson founded The Literary Club and Thomas Gainsborough, with financial assistance from George III, founded the Royal Academy of Arts.
The British Empire overseas expanded, eating habits and clothing changed drastically, the voting system was reformed, new houses for the rich grew grander while housing for the poor got little better; farm labourers, for instance, lived in two- or three-roomed cottages which were often damp and draughty and near factories and coal mines, rows of tiny cottages were built cheaply for the workers.
The book is full of interesting facts and, copiously illustrated, it brings to life the Georgian period. It is the sort of book I could have read when at school, it would have made history (at that time) much more interesting!
For whatever else was happening in the world, there were very many changes, both politically and socially, in Britain in the period 1714 to 1837. And in 1714 when Queen Anne died, the question was, 'Who will rule Britain?' Anne's half brother James was one choice but he was a Roman Catholic and Parliament would not a allow a Roman Catholic king. So the crown was offered to George of Hanover, a German but a protestant, who was the great grandson of King James I. He was duly crowned in October 1714 and the Georgian era began ... and ended 123 years later when William IV died.
The changes encompassed all sorts of things, machines were invented that turned the imports of cheap raw materials from Britain's colonies into finished goods much more quickly than previously. And British traders grew rich selling the goods all over the world. Better farming methods were used to produce more food to feed the ever-growing population and these new methods brought with them other changes. The open fields were enclosed with walls and hedges, coal mines, iron foundries and canals were cut into the countryside and much needed new roads were built. In addition new towns sprung up as people made their way to work in the new factories that had been created.
Andrew Langley covers all this and more in 48-delightful pages, beginning with 'The Britain of Walpole'. When Walpole began his political career the country facing a huge national debt of £54 million. Walpole, after saving many an important dignitary from the ignominy of bankruptcy following the collapse of the South Sea Company, was made Prime Minister, the first in British history. He remained in charge until 1742.
During his time in office he made every effort to save money all round and reduce that national debt and he succeeded as Britain began to prosper. Business was expanding, pedlars carried goods to sell all over the country and farmers took their animals to market. Other workers went to the towns to find work as servants or street traders as these jobs were better paid than farm workers. The cities grew fast, the population of London rose to more than half a million and places such as Plymouth, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow became big towns.
Roads were improved immensely, turnpikes where a toll was paid were eventually abandoned as men such as Thomas Telford and John Macadam developed better methods of road building. Transport by river, canal, and sometime later, by train, was used to transport huge loads of coal, iron and other materials. The first canal was built by James Brinkley in 1759 and in the following 50 years over 6,000 kilometres of new canals were dug, forming a network that linked the main industrial towns with London and the sea ports.
The navy was Britain's strongest fighting force, as evinced by Admiral Nelson, Wellington fought and defeated Napoleon, Captain Cook explored the Southern Pacific Ocean, British forces fought, and lost, the American War of Independence while in the arts, Jane Austen became the most famous lady author, Samuel Johnson founded The Literary Club and Thomas Gainsborough, with financial assistance from George III, founded the Royal Academy of Arts.
The British Empire overseas expanded, eating habits and clothing changed drastically, the voting system was reformed, new houses for the rich grew grander while housing for the poor got little better; farm labourers, for instance, lived in two- or three-roomed cottages which were often damp and draughty and near factories and coal mines, rows of tiny cottages were built cheaply for the workers.
The book is full of interesting facts and, copiously illustrated, it brings to life the Georgian period. It is the sort of book I could have read when at school, it would have made history (at that time) much more interesting!
Displaying 1 of 1 review