Summary: factors in change (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Summary: factors in change
Understanding causation in history
When studying Britain from 1170 to the present day, historians need to understand not just what changed, but why things changed. This concept is called causation. You might be asked to compare different factors that caused change or decide which factors were more important than others.
Understanding causation is essential for historical analysis because it helps us see patterns in how societies change over time. Rather than just memorising dates and events, we can understand the underlying forces that drive historical transformation.
The eight key factors that drive historical change
These eight factors work individually and together to create the complex web of historical change. Each factor has played a significant role throughout British history, though their relative importance has varied across different time periods.
War
Military conflict has been a major driver of change throughout British history. Wars can bring new rulers who introduce different laws and systems of government. During wartime, society often transforms as people take on new roles and responsibilities.
Historical Example: Women's Roles in WWI
During the First World War, women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, taking over jobs traditionally done by men. This social change helped women gain the right to vote and challenged traditional gender roles.
Impact: The war accelerated social change that might have taken decades to occur naturally.
Religion
Religious beliefs have enormous power to motivate people and shape society. The Church has historically been very influential in Britain, and people's faith often drives them to take action for change.
Historical Example: The Pilgrimage of Grace (1536)
Henry VIII's religious reforms in the 1530s were a key cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace. Thousands of people rebelled because they opposed the break with Rome and wanted to preserve Catholic traditions.
Impact: Religious conviction motivated ordinary people to risk their lives challenging royal authority.
Chance
Sometimes historical change happens by pure accident or luck. Events that nobody could have predicted or planned can have massive consequences for society.
Remember that chance events often interact with other factors. The Black Death was a chance occurrence, but its impact was shaped by existing economic and social conditions.
Historical Example: The Black Death (1348)
The arrival of the Black Death in 1348 was a chance event that contributed to major social upheaval, including the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The plague wasn't planned by anyone, but it changed the entire structure of mediaeval society.
Impact: A biological accident reshaped England's social hierarchy and labour relations.
Government
Political action and government decisions are frequent causes of change. When rulers or parliaments pass new laws or policies, they can transform society.
Historical Example: Reform Acts
The government passed various laws to bring about change, such as the reform acts that gradually extended voting rights to more people throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Process: 1832 Reform Act → 1867 Reform Act → 1884-85 Reform Acts → gradual democratisation
Communication
The spread of ideas and information drives change by helping new concepts reach more people quickly. Better communication methods allow revolutionary ideas to spread faster.
The development of printing, newspapers, and later radio and television revolutionised how quickly ideas could spread across the country. This acceleration of communication has made social and political movements more powerful and coordinated.
Historical Example: 19th Century Reform Movements
In the 19th century, reformers used newspapers and pamphlets to spread their ideas about social and political change, helping movements like Chartism gain support across the country.
Method: Pamphlets → newspapers → public meetings → coordinated national movement
The economy
Economic conditions strongly influence how people behave and what they want. During hard economic times, people are more likely to demand change and challenge existing systems.
Historical Example: American Revolution
Economic hardship was one of the main causes of the American Revolution. Taxation policies imposed by the British government created economic pressure that motivated colonists to rebel.
Sequence: Economic pressure → political grievances → organised resistance → revolution
Ideas
New concepts about power, equality, democracy, and representation can inspire massive social and political changes. When people develop new ideas about how society should work, they often fight to make those ideas reality.
Historical Example: Chartism (1830s-1840s)
The idea of political representation was a key motivation for the Chartists in the 1830s and 1840s, who demanded democratic reforms like universal male suffrage.
Key Ideas: Universal male suffrage, secret ballot, payment for MPs, annual parliaments
Role of the individual
Exceptional individuals can inspire change through their strong beliefs, leadership, or discoveries. Sometimes one person's actions or ideas can transform entire societies.
Individual leaders are most effective when they work alongside other favourable factors. Even the most charismatic leader needs the right economic, social, or political conditions to create lasting change.
Historical Example: Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort played a crucial role in the development of parliamentary government in mediaeval England. His individual leadership and vision helped establish principles that would influence British politics for centuries.
Legacy: First elected parliament (1265) → foundation for future democratic development
Patterns of change across British history
Understanding how different factors have dominated various historical periods helps us analyse why certain types of change occurred when they did.
Mediaeval Britain (1170-1485)
During this period, government and economy were often the most important factors. Events like King John and the barons' conflict (leading to Magna Carta in 1215) and the Peasants' Revolt (1381) were primarily driven by political and economic grievances.
In mediaeval society, political and economic power were closely linked. Most people were directly dependent on land ownership and feudal relationships, making governmental and economic factors particularly influential in driving change.
Early Modern Britain (1485-1750)
Religion became increasingly significant during this era. The English Reformation, the English Revolution (1642-49), and related conflicts were heavily influenced by religious differences and beliefs.
The Protestant Reformation fundamentally changed how people thought about authority, both religious and political. This period shows how religious ideas could reshape entire political systems.
Industrial Britain (1750-1900)
Economic factors and ideas about democracy and equality became dominant forces for change. The Industrial Revolution created new social classes and economic relationships, while ideas about political representation drove reform movements.
The Industrial Revolution didn't just change how people worked - it created entirely new social classes and relationships. The growing middle class and industrial working class both demanded political representation, driving democratic reforms.
Modern Britain (1900-present)
War has been a major factor, with both World Wars transforming British society. Ideas about equality, civil rights, and social justice have also driven significant changes, particularly in areas like women's rights and racial equality.
The 20th century saw the acceleration of change due to global conflicts and the rapid spread of new ideas about human rights and equality. Mass media allowed ideas to spread faster than ever before in history.
Timeline of major events
- 1215 - Magna Carta signed (Government, Economy)
- 1265 - Simon de Montfort's Parliament (Individual, Government)
- 1381 - Peasants' Revolt (Economy, Government)
- 1536 - Pilgrimage of Grace (Religion, Economy)
- 1642-49 - English Civil War (Government, Religion)
- 1776 - American Revolution begins (Government, Economy, Ideas)
- 1832 - Great Reform Act (Government, Ideas)
- 1838 - Chartism begins (Government, Ideas, Communication)
- 1807-1833 - Anti-Slavery movement (Ideas, Communication, Religion)
- 1838-1846 - Anti-Corn Law League (Economy, Communication)
- 1918 - Women gain the vote (Government, Individual, War)
- 1926 - General Strike (Economy, Government)
Key Points to Remember:
- Multiple factors usually work together to cause historical change - rarely is there just one cause
- Different factors become more or less important in different time periods
- Economic hardship has consistently motivated people to demand change throughout British history
- War has been particularly significant in the modern period, transforming society in unexpected ways
- Individual leaders can be crucial, but they usually need other factors (like economic conditions or popular ideas) to be successful