Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about a theme in British history over a period of roughly 1000 years. They examine this theme, analysing the impact it had in Medieval, Early Modern, Industrial and Modern Britain, with a particular focus on change and continuity.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to evaluate how and why the government's approach to public health changed during the 19th century.

Key Notes

• Overcrowding, poor waste disposal and poor access to food and water were major issues in industrial cities.
• Successive governments took little action due to laissez-faire attitudes.
• Edwin Chadwick revealed the impact of poor public health on industrial workers.
• Public Health Acts were introduced in 1848 and 1875.
• The extension of the vote encouraged governments to make public health reforms.

Vocabulary To Learn

• public health: actions and systems intended to prevent disease and maintain good health within communities
• adulterated: foods which have been made weaker or worse in quality, especially by having something added to them
• laissez-faire: the belief that governments should not interfere in people's daily lives

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The government fully implemented Edwin Chadwick's recommendations.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• 19th century approaches to treatment and prevention Study Guide
• A 19th century revolution in surgery Study Guide
• Edward Jenner and vaccination Study Guide
• Fighting cholera in London in the 19th century Study Guide
• Hospital care in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries Study Guide
• Improvements in modern surgery Study Guide
• John Hunter Study Guide
• Medieval approaches to treating and preventing disease Study Guide
• Medieval caregivers Study Guide
• Medieval ideas about the causes of illness and disease Study Guide
• Medieval public health in towns and monasteries Study Guide
• Medieval surgery Study Guide
• Modern advances in understanding the causes of illness and disease Study Guide
• Modern approaches to medical treatment Study Guide
• Modern approaches to the prevention of illness and disease Study Guide
• Modern improvements in diagnosis Study Guide
• New 19th century ideas about the causes of disease and illness Study Guide
• Renaissance approaches to treatment and prevention Study Guide
• Renaissance changes in anatomy and surgery Study Guide
• Renaissance ideas about disease and illness Study Guide
• The Black Death Study Guide
• The development of magic bullets and antibiotics Study Guide
• The fight against lung cancer in the 21st century Study Guide
• The Great Plague of 1665 Study Guide
• The growth of hospital care in the 19th century Study Guide
• The Liberal reforms and public health Study Guide
• The nature and importance of Islamic medicine and surgery Study Guide
• The role of Christianity in Medieval medicine Study Guide
• The welfare state and the NHS Study Guide
• William Harvey Study Guide