BRITAIN IN
THE 18th
CENTURY
In 1707, the Act of Union unified
England and Scotland.
In 1718, Nearly one hundred years
after their inception, American
colonies began to house British
convicts. Over a sixty year period,
over fifty thousand convicts were
transported to the American Colonies.
From 1721, Robert Walpole became
the king's chief minister. He became
the first lord of the treasury and
chancellor of the exchequer. People
began to call him Prime Minister.
In February 1742, Walpole resigned
War of Jenkins' Ear
In 1731, Robert Jenkins had his
ear cut off by Spanish coast
guards.
English resentment of Spain was
a major cause of the war, but the
propaganda effect caused by
Jenkins' ear forced Walpole to
declare war.
10-1739, Britain declared war
on Spain, beginning the "War of
Jenkins' Ear."
The war lasted for two years and
only contained naval battles in
the West Indies.
THE SEVEN
YEARS' WAR
May 1756, The Seven Years'
War began.
The war was fought
primarily between Britain
and France, though it is
generally considered the first
global war.
Fighting took place in
America, India, and Europe.
Britain emerged victorious
from the war in 1763,
acquiring Quebec, Florida
and parts of India.
Tacky's Revolt
4- 1760, Tacky's Revolt
occurred in Jamaica.
Hundreds of slaves attacked
plantations, killing about sixty
whites and setting crops on
fire.
Tacky was beheaded and
hundreds of rebels were
executed.
Skirmishes continued for
months following the
executions .
Industrial Revolution
. In the 18th cetury, from
making goods by hand to
making them by machine
Period of major changes in
agriculture, manufacturing,
mining, transport, and
technology
Affected almost every
aspect of daily life
Income and population
grew
Living conditions differed
greatly
ution
Improvements in
Industry
Many turnpike roads were built.
Local turnpike trusts were formed.
A network of canals was built. One
of the first was built for the Duke of
Bridgewater. It opened from Worsley
to Manchester.
In 1698 Thomas Savery made the
first steam engine. From 1712
Thomas Newcomen made steam
engines to pump water from
coalmines. Then, in 1769, James Watt
patented a more efficient steam
engine and in the 1780s it was
adapted to power machinery.
Improvements in
Industry
The first industry to become
mechanized was the textile industry. In
1771, opened a cotton-spinning mill
with a machine called a water frame,
which was powered by a water mill.
Then, in 1779, invented a new cotton-
spinning machine called a spinning
mule. Finally in 1785 invented a loom
that could be powered by a steam
engine.
Iron production also grew rapidly. In
1784 invented a much better way of
making wrought iron.
In 1784, invented the puddling
process. The result was a vast increase
in iron production.
CAUSES OF THE
AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
3- 1765, The Stamp Act
caused riots in the American
Colonies, forcing it to be
replaced a year later.
6-1767, Import taxes were
imposed upon the American
colonies.
12- 1773, The Boston Tea
Party escalated tensions
between Britain and the
colonies.
THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
CONCLUSION
10/19/1781- The
Americans defeated the
British Army at Yorktown,
Virginia and forced the
British into negotiations to
end the war.
September 1783- The
Treaty of Paris officially
ended the war between
Britain and America
THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
In 1789, the French
Revolution began .
6- 1793, King Louis XVI
was executed.
Following the execution of
King Louis XVI, Britain,
like Spain, went to war
against France.
In 1815, War would last
until Napoleon's defeat at the
Battle of Waterloo.
Born on May 24, 1819.
Died on
Daughter of Prince
Edward, Duke of Kent
and German Princess
Victoire of Saxe
Coburg
A portrait of the young Queen Victoria
Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland at the age of 18 .
Victoria married her cousin, Albert of Saxe-
Coburg Gotha, a German Prince .
They had nine children and their modest family life
provided a model of respectability
She was nicknamed the “ Grandmother of Europe”
Prince Albert
also became her
strongest ally,
helping her
navigate
difficult
political waters
Albert's role as advisor to his wife came into full force
after the death of Lord Melbourne, the prime minister,
who had exerted a strong paternal influence over
Victoria, and Albert began to act as the queen's private
secretary.
He encouraged in his wife a greater interest in social
welfare and invited Lord Shaftesbury, the driving force
behind successive factory acts, to Buckingham Palace
to discuss the matter of child labour.
Her reign was a period of significant
social , economic & technological
change, which saw the expansion of
Britain’s industrial power & the British
empire.
“The sun never sets on British Empire”
Richest, most powerful nation
empire covers ¼ of earth’s surface
18 major territories added including
India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
most of East Africa and the Caribbean
Great Britain imported raw materials such as
cotton and silk and exported finished goods to
countries around the world.
By the mid -1800s, Great Britain was the largest
exporter and importer of goods in the world. It
was the primary manufacturer of goods and the
wealthiest country in the world.
1832: the First Reform Act granted the vote to
almost all male members of middle class
1833: the Factory Act regulated child labour in
factories
1834 : Poor Law Amendment establish a system of
workhouse for poor people.
1867 : the Second Reform Act gave the vote to
skilled working men.
1871: Trade Union Act legalised trades unions
1884: the Third Reform Act granted the right to
vote to all male householders.
Industrial revolution:
factory system emerged, mass
production became important
and profitable
Developments in science:
Charles Darwin published his
work on evolution, On the
Origins of Species, in 1859.
Technological advances:
introduction of steam
hammers, locomotives;
building a network of railways.
Railways, carnal and steamships provided Britain
with the transportation between Britain and its
colonies
Economical progress:
Britain became the
greatest economical
power in the world; in
1901 the USA became the
leader , but Britain
remained the first in
manufacturing
Pollution in the towns due to factory activity.
Hygienic conditions (cities were too densely
populated, most people lived in miserable
conditions; most houses shared water supplies)
The exploitation of women and children.
Epidemics : with a consistant increase of death in
the cities.
