131-028 Birth of Industrial Society in Britain

Formerly available as 131-212/312. Students who have completed 131-212 or 131-312 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first year history, see Prerequisites, or first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject studies British society during the critical period of the world's first Industrial Revolution. Students should become familiar with themes such as the major social changes brought by early industrialisation; the concepts of social class, class consciousness and class conflict in relation to the development of a middle class and working class; the nature of the British state and issues of reform and revolution; changes in the role and status of women and the family; and the development of the modern ideologies of classical economics, liberalism, socialism, evangelicalism, Benthamite utilitarianism and their application to the social problems of the period. The subject also examines developments in Britain's dependency of Ireland in this period, including the crucial events of Catholic Emancipation.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.

Written work totalling 4000 words and class participation.

A subject reader will be available.

• A Briggs, The Age of Improvement. 1959.