How Did The Industrial Revolution Transform London 1800 To 1914

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London 1800-1914

Early in the quarter we read definitions offered by Mumford, Wirth, and others discussing city development as a political, social and economic force, not simply a construction of buildings and environments, but one that encompasses all the activities that bring life to these structures. I discuss some of the forces that dramatically transformed London into the city it is today. During the Industrial revolution, London’s development was increasingly shaped by social and political forces that evolved into policies that changed the physical characteristics of the city. Without this critical development it is unlikely that London would have survived the rapid economic growth it experienced during this period of intense technological …show more content…

). In 1820, the Prince of Wales (who would later become king) took on an ambitious project to redesign an area of London owned by the crown. A new avenue lined by shops, offices and upscale residences beginning at the Regent’s London residence and ending at a grand new park was designed in response to a recently completed project in France. The New Poor Law of 1834 was entrusted with the task of coordinating public assistance to the indignant, several physicians were enlisted to study the causes of illness and mortality in British cities. The results of these reports pointed to lacking sanitary conditions in British cities as a cause of contagious diseases that were preventable. Since many city dwellers lacked indoor plumbing, London passed Public Baths and Washhouses Acts in 1846-1847 and began building “unitary” sewers for both drain water and human waste in 1848 (Lees, & Lees, 2007, p. 190). Metropolitan London was able to build multiple rail lines and local stations for commuters because of the vast spaces available for development within the city, reducing the need to …show more content…

Many orphanages and Sunday Schools were also established during this time period, followed by the development of hospitals funded by charity (between 1820 and 1860)(Lees, & Lees, 2007, p. 108). By 1885, the income from London charities exceeded that of several independent governments (Lees, & Lees, 2007, p.

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