how did life in rural england change after the enclosures.. by the building of a modern nation.
What are enclosures?
to enclose means to fence off but still I donèt understand
Please check your book for information about how fences changed rural England. Before then, people could graze their livestock on large open areas owned by the community. After people started private ownership of land, they fenced in their fields and meadows.
the bulding of modern nation madfe farming more efficient byt had disatrous consequences for farm workers. Towns grew enourmously , growth in manufacturing grew, please add to this
The farm workers had to go to work for the farmers with land. Living in crowded towns was difficult for many people. People in towns had to work in factories for long hours under sometimes dangerous conditions.
Is this all I need.
It's all you need -- unless your book makes some other important points.
thanx
You're very welcome.
To understand how life in rural England changed after the enclosures and the building of a modern nation, we need to break down the process into two parts.
1. Enclosures:
During the period between the 16th and 19th centuries, many agricultural lands in England were enclosed, which means they were transformed from communal or open fields into individually owned and fenced private parcels. This was done primarily through the passing of various enclosure acts by the British parliament.
Enclosures brought several significant changes to rural England:
a) Economic Changes:
- Previously, farming was practiced collectively in open fields, with various families owning plots of land within the fields. With enclosures, small-scale subsistence farming gradually gave way to large-scale commercial farming.
- Landowners consolidated smaller plots into larger, more efficiently managed farms, and introduced newer farming techniques and machinery.
- This shift increased agricultural productivity, leading to surplus production and diversification of crops.
b) Social Changes:
- Enclosures led to the dispossession of many small tenant farmers and rural laborers who had relied on common lands for their livelihoods. As a result, people were forced to migrate to cities in search of employment in the growing industrial sector, contributing to urbanization.
- Traditional rural communities that had been tightly knit and interdependent were disrupted, as agricultural work became more individualized and less communal.
2. Building of a Modern Nation:
The building of a modern nation in England was a gradual process that occurred in parallel with the enclosures. It involved several changes in governance, society, and industrialization:
a) Political and Legal Changes:
- Enclosure acts were enacted to regulate land use and redefine property rights, shifting power and wealth into the hands of landowners. This consolidation of land ownership contributed to the emergence of a capitalist agricultural system.
- The establishment of a centralized government and legal framework enabled industrialization and urban development. Laws were enacted to protect private property rights, promote trade and commerce, and regulate labor relations.
b) Industrialization and Urbanization:
- With the enclosures, surplus laborers migrated to rapidly growing urban areas, seeking employment in industries. This mass migration shifted the labor force from agriculture to factories, mining, and other emerging industries.
- Industrialization brought technological advancements, such as steam power and mechanization, leading to increased productivity and the growth of manufacturing industries.
- Urbanization resulted in the expansion of towns and cities, along with the construction of infrastructure like railways, roads, and mills.
In summary, the enclosures fundamentally altered the rural landscape of England, transforming it from a traditional agrarian society into a more capitalist and commercially oriented one. The displacement of rural communities and the consolidation of land ownership contributed to the development of a modern nation characterized by industrialization, urbanization, and a shift towards individualized farming practices.