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1、Research EssayWhat was the significant of the Great Exhibition of 1851Professor: Dr. Geoff SpurrStudent Name: Ming LiStudent Number: 040055280Date: 26 Nov 2007The Industrial Revolution of Britain during the eighteenth century significantly influenced the entire human society. Many historians believe
2、 that “the onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in human social history, comparable to the invention of farming or the rise of the first city-states; almost every aspect of daily life and human society was eventually influenced in some way.”1 Throughout approximately one h
3、undred years, Britain successfully transformed itself into a modern industrial nation. In fact, most major European and North American countries followed in Britains footsteps through the industrial age. However, there is no doubt that Britain became the most successfully industrialized country duri
4、ng this period, and the great success of industrialization has eventually brought forth economic prosperity through commerce and an unbelievable rise in international trade. In order to celebrate and recognize the commercial prosperity of mid-Victorian Britain and display the brilliant modern indust
5、rial technologies, the first Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations was organized by Prince Albert, Henry Cole, Francis Fuller, Charles Dilke and other members of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 1851. Many believe this was the first gre
6、at international exhibition in human history. According to the historical records, “the Great Exhibition, also known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition, was an international exhibition held in Hyde Park, London, England, from the first of May to the 15 of October 1851.”2 During this five month exhibit
7、ion, over six million visitors came to view over fourteen thousand exhibitors, who had travelled from all around the world. Most historians thought that the exhibition was intended to raise the level of industrial design and to display production and acquire new and larger markets. However, a few hi
8、storians believe that “the Great Exhibition was mounted in response to the highly successful 1 Lossing John Benson. A History of England, Political, Military and Social. New York: New York Press. 2007 p972 Henri Jean. History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. Michigan: University of Michi
9、gan press. 2006 p351French Industrial Exposition of 1844.”3 Based on different perspectives and historical backgrounds, one may never reach a unique comment about the Great Exhibition of 1851, but no one can ignore the great achievements that came out of the British Industrial Revolution, nor the si
10、gnificant role which Britain played in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Historian Goldwin Smith wrote in his article Condition of England: Economic and Social, “The Great Exhibition of 1851 marked the beginning of international trade advertisement on a grand scale. The world was invited to c
11、ontemplate the results of the era of progress in England, her industrial power, and her inventive genius.”4 In fact, the advancement of technology and great productivity helped British factories turned out larger quantities of products. Significant amounts of surplus capital gained from internationa
12、l trade was being directly invested or lent to other nations. For example, in 1925 British foreign loans totalled about 100,000,000; in 1850 they totalled 510,000,000.5 Through its wide global trading, England was able to use its technology, its strategic location, and its resources to become the wo
13、rlds greatest producer, exporter, and loan provider. The Great Exhibition was not simply a commercial show, but also a sign of the transformation of the British economic system. With a thorough review of history, one can clearly see that Britain had switched its foreign policy and national strategy
14、during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This in turn benefited Britain as a whole and globally strengthened Britains leading position in trade. By the middle of eighteenth century, Britain had successfully built a great empire who claimed itself “the Empire on which the sun never
15、sets.” At the same time, Britain also suffered from increased tensions between itself and other European nations; a battle between the motherland and it overseas colonies. One example would be that of 3 Gibbs-Smith Harvard Charles. The Great Exhibition of 1851. Oxford: H.M.S.O. 1981p694 Trevelyan G.
16、M. History of England. London: Longman press. 1973 p2285 Henri. P225the “tensions between American colonies and the British during the revolutionary period of the 1760s and early 1770s which led to the American Revolutionary War, fought from 1775 through 1781.”6 The fight for independence of the North American colony represented a major turning point in the history of the British Empire as Britain lost one of its greatest overseas colonies. The North American colony was significant
