34 - 34 Effects of the industrial revolution Along with the...

34. Effects of the industrial revolution
Along with the industrial revolution, there was an urban revolution. In 1800 around one fifth
(20%) of the British population lived in towns and cities. The population of London was just
under a million. By 1850 half the population lived in towns and cities. By 1900 three quarters
(75%) of the British population lived in towns and cities, and London, with 6 million people was
the largest city in the world.
35. Apart from London, which had been the largest city for hundreds of years, many of the other
large cities in Britain were new. New cities like Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham,
Sheffield and Leeds grew up around the new industries, and by the 20th century they were larger
than older cities such as Norwich, York, Bristol and Exeter.
36. Many of these new cities were in the northern part of England or, in the case of Glasgow,
Scotland. The industries there began to compete with the industries in London. In fact, some of