Did Life Get Better for People Living in Britain 1750-1900?

Britain went through some huge changes during the Industrial Revolution 1750-1900. Many of these changes made things better for people; however other changes did however make things worse. Britain was mainly rural and agricultural based before the Industrial Revolution however it changed and became predominantly urban and industrial land, with large numbers of people moving from the country and a quieter simpler way of life to busy, overcrowded and dirty cities.

In some ways life in Britain did get better because the death rate got better, in the 1750s the annual death rate was 28 deaths per 1000 people, and also many babies died before their 1st birthday. However in 1900s the annual death rate has fallen to 18 deaths per 1000 people. The main reason the death rate fell was because better medicine was introduced and anaesthetics were also founded so many lives were saved during and after operations. The public had more knowledge about health and sanitation, so also as a part of this Britain's streets were safer and better because they were cleaner.

Life in Britain also got better because factories and businesses provided lots of jobs for the public so most people were given a job, so that they can provide for their family, whereas previously lots of people were un-employed and families were struggling. The owners of big factories were also getting profit, especially form the new production methods introduced. It was good that the factories were doing so well because they were the main supply of jobs, and source of the product made there.

The education in Britain got much better during the Industrial Revolution, before the Revolution most children could not read or write and lots didn't even go to school. However children started going to schools and many went to a very good school where they had a good education. The provision of schooling for children was good because they would progress to be more educated and some could run their own businesses and they were more likely to be employed, which would benefit Britain in the future.

Transport also changed dramatically through the years, before the Industrial Revolution the only transportation was by boat or road, but this soon changed and railways were introduced into Britain meaning that there was a quicker, cheaper and faster way of travelling. It was really good because unlike the boats it wasn't weather dependent, and it could travel anytime. Farmers produce could be sent to markets all over the country easily and other goods like linen, corn and butter could also be transported, for half the cost and one sixth of the time. Mine owners would be given direct links to main cities and then from there their coal could be exported all over the world.

In other ways, however, life either just didn't get better or it in fact got worse. Poor families in Britain were hugely disadvantaged by laws that prevented children to work. Children working