The British Industrial Revolution

What is more important: Wealth or Happiness?

 

Introduction

Task

Process

Resources

Evaluation

Conclusion

 

A WebQuest for 12th Grade English

 

Designed by:

Sarah Weber

Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

Louisville, KY 40205

 

 

 


Introduction

 

As the Victorian era progresses in Britain from 1830-1900, the Industrial Revolution is underway. Although Britain is gaining huge economic wealth from industry, there are social setbacks. Britain is unprepared for sudden urbanization, and has no means of sewer, trash disposal, or safe housing for factory workers. The working lower-classes are forced to live in inhumane conditions and are contracting disease for the profit of wealthy factory owners. Some of the upper class in Britain, however, is beginning to question if economic wealth is worth the unhappiness of so much of England’s population. 

 

 

 

 


Task

 

The year is 1890. You are an influential Member of The House of Lords in Victorian era Britain. You sympathize with the workers and want to help improve their living conditions. Although British economy would lose money, you believe the factory owners can afford to lose profits in order for social welfare programs to be put in place.

 

The Prime Minister is calling the House of Lords and The House of Commons together for a vote as to if anything will be done to help the working class. Many of your peers are wealthy themselves, and therefore against profit losses that will stem from improving the living conditions of the lower class.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Process

 

You have been granted permission to speak during the session, and must prepare a strong argument for why monies should be allocated to improve the living conditions of the workers. You must also form a budget for social services and city planning to help the workers. The budget should state the exact allocation of funds for each needed service or city plan.

 

1.    Read Engel’s “The Conditions of the Working Class” on pages 222-231 in the text book. Make a list of the horrors in both living conditions and working conditions of the lower class workers.

2.    Visit the following web sites to gain a greater breadth of knowledge about the living and working conditions of factory workers:

·        http://www.cottontimes.co.uk/workers1.htm

·        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1844engels.html

·        http://www.victorianweb.org/history/workers1.html

·        http://www.libertyhaven.com/countriesandregions/britain/childlaborbritish.html

  1. Collect a list of horrible living and working conditions to present at the session to support your argument that government help is needed. Write a two-page persuasive essay using the information from “The Conditions of the Working Class” and the internet sources. You must use at least eight pieces of information from the text or internet. For information on tips for writing a persuasive essay, click here.
  2. Now prepare a budget that specifically allocates funds for helping the working class. From the text and internet site’s needs, formulate a list of items that need government funding. The budget list may include items such as a Health Department or the construction of sewers. For a guide that will help you with city planning, click here.
  3. Once you have prepared your persuasive essay and city planning budget, you will be expected to present your budget and the reasons funding should be allocated for each item to the class. The budget should be presented on poster board so that all of the class can easily read it. Turn a copy of the budget and the essay in to me. The class will then vote on which budget items are the most important for improving the living conditions of the factory workers.

 

 

 

 


Resources

 

Here is the web resources used in this site:

 

·        http://www.cottontimes.co.uk/workers1.htm

·        http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1844engels.html

·        http://www.victorianweb.org/history/workers1.html

·        http://www.libertyhaven.com/countriesandregions/britain/childlaborbritish.html

·        http://www.bbc.co.ud/history/society_culture/industrialisation/

·        http://www.parliament.uk/about_lords/history.cfm

·        http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/

·        http://www.parliament.uk/about_commons/history.cfm

·        http://www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtcr/handouts/persuasive.htm

·        http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/cityguid.html

 

 

 

 


Evaluation

 

Your two-page essay will be graded based on criteria from a set rubric. If you would like access to the grading rubric, click here. I will grade your poster board as you present your budgets in class. There will be a possible 25 points for the budget. 25=A, 22=B, 20=C, and 15=D. You may ask to see your grade after class or before the next class.

 

 

 

 

 


Conclusion

 

Although social programs and urban planning were novel ideas during the Victorian Era, they eventually did come about though legislation. Sadly, government benefits did not reach people in time to save millions of lives from destitution and disease. Social programs and laws to protect workers were slow in having a strong impact. Yet because of politicians such as you in this assignment, the world is now a much more humane place for all people to live.  

 

 

 

 

 


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