Glossary
Crime (reform)
The issue of illegal activities in urban areas, which led to reforms in policing and the penal system during the late 19th century.
Example:
To address rising urban crime, governments established professional police forces and shifted prison focus towards rehabilitation.
Edwin Chadwick
A British social reformer who was a key figure in advocating for improved public health and sanitation in the 19th century.
Example:
Edwin Chadwick's reports highlighted the dire conditions in industrial cities, leading to significant reforms in sewage and water systems.
Georges Haussmann
A French urban planner responsible for the massive renovation of Paris under Napoleon III, creating wide boulevards, parks, and modern infrastructure.
Example:
The iconic wide avenues and grand public spaces of modern Paris are a lasting legacy of Georges Haussmann's urban redesign.
Industrialization
The process of economic and social change marked by the shift from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing.
Example:
The rapid growth of factories and cities in 19th-century Britain was a direct result of industrialization.
Interventionism
A policy of governmental interference in economic or social affairs, often adopted to address market failures or social problems.
Example:
The late 19th-century shift towards interventionism saw governments enacting laws to improve public health and provide education.
Laissez-faire
An economic doctrine that opposes government intervention in the economy, advocating for a free market with minimal regulation.
Example:
Early 19th-century liberals often supported laissez-faire policies, believing that the economy would regulate itself without state interference.
Overcrowding
A condition where too many people inhabit a given area, leading to poor living conditions, strain on resources, and social problems.
Example:
The rapid influx of rural migrants to urban centers during the Industrial Revolution led to severe overcrowding in tenement housing.
Public Education
A system of schooling provided by the government, typically free of charge, aimed at educating the general populace.
Example:
The establishment of mandatory public education systems in many European nations aimed to create a more skilled workforce and foster national unity.
Sanitation and Public Health
Refers to the systems and practices put in place to protect and improve community health, especially concerning the disposal of waste and provision of clean water.
Example:
Cities implemented new sewage systems and clean water supplies as part of sanitation and public health reforms to combat widespread disease.