Page "History of England" Paragraph 118

During the late 18th century and early 19th century, there was considerable social upheaval as a largely agrarian society was transformed by technological advances and increasing mechanization, which was the Industrial Revolution.

Much of the agricultural workforce was uprooted from the countryside and moved into large urban centres of production, as the steam-based production factories could undercut the traditional cottage industries, because of economies of scale and the increased output per worker made possible by the new technologies.

The consequent overcrowding into areas with little supporting infrastructure saw dramatic increases in the rate of infant mortality ( to the extent that many Sunday schools for pre-working age children ( 5 or 6 ) had funeral clubs to pay for each other's funeral arrangements ), crime, and social deprivation.