History of Great Britain

Extract

[...] Under King Charles this pressure increased leading Parliament to demand the power to share in decision-making. Its Petition of Rights was punished by 11 years of tyranny in which crowned, and bishops joined their forces. Under great financial pressure, the king finally accepted the demands of Parliament which wanted to limit the bishop's power and the prerogatives of the king. However, equality was not yet achieved, the egalitarian movement: the Leveller gained ground in the towns and among the soldiers leading parliament to judge King Charles I and condemn him to death (1649). [...]

[...] The external market also developed thanks to Britain's overseas expansion which continued to be greater. Transports and the Technological Revolution New roads and especially canals helped to open the way to remote and isolated regions, creating in this way an important internal market in the whole kingdom. Private companies were authorised to build and maintain roads, in return they could charge a small toll for usage at turnpike gates. This initiate met the need for good roads and contributed to the modernisation of the countryside which had already started with the enclosure movement. [...]

[...] All of them were converted to pasture for sheep-wearing to make higher profits. Inflation and Unemployment High agriculture prices stimulated farmers to produce crops for sale rather than to satisfy a rural subsistence as it was done in the past. The rising population pressured food demand which was often higher than supply mainly in years of poor harvests, epidemics, or bad weather. In cash terms, agricultural prices rose very fast, and this was helped by the Labour force which was plenty, and which was cheap. [...]

[...] The importance given to the individual achievement, the idea that salvation went with profits and that divine election went with social success, provided the perfect base for the development of capitalism. It is in this way that the first industrial revolutionaries were puritans. At the same time, the creation of clubs, newspapers reinforced the faith in Enlightenment and the enthusiasm in science. The Royal Society was founded in 1660 and it aimed at gathering the best scientists regardless of their religion or political opinions. [...]

[...] In agriculture, the changes which were brought in the 17th century were developed. The rotation of crops and the concentration of lands to enclosures were strengthened. Besides, new inventions helped to increase the productivity and the capacities of production; among them, the seed drill which was invented in 1701 for sowing seeds in spaced rooms at controlled rate. This reduced the need for workers and increased the production. There were also other inventions which boosted the agricultural activity. At the same time, drastic changes also occurred in the agricultural population structure. [...]