#english_history 

## Supremacy
Britain in the 19th century was at its most powerful and self-confident. Britain was the "workshop" of the world.
By the end of the 19th century, Britain's empire was political rather than commercial. The supremacy of the British Empire gave rise to avid patriotism among the Brits.

Britain enjoyed a strong place in European councils after the defeat of Napoleon, relying on its industry and trade and the navy.

Beritain wanted two main things in Europe:
1. "Balance of power"
2. Free market, in which its own industrial and trade superiority would give Britain a clear advantage

After 1815 the British government did only try to develop its trading stations, but to control world traffic and world markets to Britain's advantage. Britain did not, however, wish to colonise everywhere, as she was mostly interested in the colonies that'd bring **trade advantages**.

## Population
The rapid growth of the middle class was part of the enormous rise in the population: in 1914 the population was **over 40 million**. This forced a change in the political change and by the end of the 19th century most men had the right to vote. Politics and government became the property of the middle class. The aristocracy and the Crown had little power left by 1914.
However, the working class had not yet found a proper voice.

## The danger at home
[[Revolution in France and the Napoleonic Wars from the perspective of Britain|The Napoleonic Wars]] had turned the nation from thoughts of revolution to the need to defeat the French: Britain had sold clothes, guns, and other supplies to its allies' armies as well as its own. 
All this changed when peace came in 1815: there was no longer such a need for factory-made goods, and many lost their jobs. Unemployment was made worse by a lot of army men looking for work. At the same time, local farmers were in the red because of cheaper imported corn, so they persuaded the government to introduce laws to protect locally grown corn. The cost of bread rose quickly, and this led to increases in the price of almost everything.

The general misery began to cause trouble. In 1830 starving farmworkers in the south of England rioted for increased wages. People tried to add to their food supply by catching wild birds and animals, but this was illegal. Many had to choose between watching their family starve and risking the severe punishment of those who were caught: many were either sent to the "penal colony"of Australia or hanged.

In order to avoid the grimy and miserable workhouses, many looked for a better life in the towns. Britain changed from being a nation of country people to a nation of mainly townspeople. In 1820 London was home for 1.25 million people. 

If the rich feared the poor in the countryside, they feared even more those in the fast-growing towns. Lucky for them, the few revolutionaries had poor organisation.

## Reforms
The Whigs understod better than the Tories the need to reform the law in order to improve social conditions. Like the Tories they feared revolution, but they believed it could only be avoided by refrom.

The Tories believed that Parliament should represent "property" and the property owners. The radicals believed Parliament should represnt the people. The Whigs were in the middle, wanting enough change to avoid revolution but little more.

When [[English Parliament|the Commons]] agreed on reform in 1830, it was vetoed by the House of Lords. But the Tories fell from power the same year, and Lord Grey formed a Whig government. In 1832 the Lords accepted the **Reform Bill**, but more because they were frightened by the riots.
In spite of the Bill's shortcomings, it was a political recognition that Britain had become an urban society.