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7 - The timing and nature of change in the industrial revolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2015

E. A. Wrigley
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

Preliminary considerations

As a background to the discussion of the issues involved, consider first the prevailing orthodoxy half a century ago. The leading figure in the first post-war decade was T. S. Ashton. He summarised his thinking in a short book entitled The industrial revolution which was published in 1948. The first two sentences convey well the flavour of the prevailing orthodoxy.

In the short span of years between the accession of George III and that of his son, William IV, the face of England changed. Areas that for centuries had been cultivated as open fields, or had lain untended as common pasture, were hedged or fenced; hamlets grew into populous towns; and chimney stacks rose to dwarf the ancient spires.

He extended his list of the prime characteristics of the new age considerably, but then expressed doubt about the appropriateness of the term ‘industrial revolution’ as an inclusive term to cover all the changes which were taking place, many of which, he noted, were social or intellectual. He drew attention to the fact that: ‘The system of human relationships that is sometimes called capitalism had its origins long before 1760, and attained its full development long after 1830: there is a danger in overlooking the essential fact of continuity.’ He concluded, however, by noting that the term ‘industrial revolution’ had become so firmly embedded in common speech that it would be pedantic to offer a substitute.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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