What were the consequences of the agricultural revolution for the rural poor? And how did they respond?
What were the consequences of the agricultural revolution for the rural poor? And how did they respond? By Kevin Dean Throughout history a so-called agricultural revolution has been detectable in every age. From the Neolithic period, from ancient Egypt, through to Rome, thirteenth century England, Britain in the 1860's, and again in the 1950's, are all given dates to when agricultural revolutions have taken place.1 In this essay, however, the term `agricultural revolution', is used to refer to the, roughly, one hundred years after 1750. In fact, the term itself is somewhat misleading, as the word `revolution' means a full circle, or a cyclical return to an original starting point, whereas in this context the term is used to indicate a series of connected events occurring in linear fashion, and according to some historians, stretching back some centuries before 1750 and being part of, and central to, the industrial revolution.2 What did the `agricultural revolution' consist of? As is often the case, the answer is multi -causal, but there are several recognisable factors that can be pointed to. Firstly, and the most contentious by dint of the difference of opinion amongst historians, the removal of common property rights to land, or `enclosure'.3 The enclosure process of denying access of cottagers and labourers to the farmlands and `commons' of the parish, and the
Did English workers have a higher standard of living then their French counterparts or vice versa?
Did English workers have a higher standard of living then their French counterparts or vice versa? Did English workers have a higher standard of living then their French counterparts or vice versa? What was the impact of the French revolution and the British industrial revolution on living standards in the two countries? The measurement of standards of living is a contentious subject in the fields of both economic history and economic development. Real wages are the most common measure of standards of living, and the relative ease of their calculation makes their use valuable. However real wages do not tell the full story. Other environmental and social factors heavily influence standards of living. Factors such as access to clean air, clean water and political representation are but a selection of a plethora of other indicators. These variables are often difficult to quantify empirically and much of the evidence for these factors is qualitative in nature. Different people place different values on non-monetary factors. Williamson regards clean air as a luxury item, whereas others would regards it as a necessity or even a right. The subjective nature of such standard of life measures fits uneasily with more precise quantitative real wage measures. I hope to examine both real wage and non monetary evidence whilst answering this question, before examining the effects
