Facts

In the 19th century in England, children and adults of both sexes were subjected to despicable factory labor. Even though there were several factory-reform movements that led the agitations for an end to inhuman practices in the factories; the stubborn, unscrupulous, and grasping attitude of the factory owners, who were in their private lives often kind fathers and husbands, such as John Bright, resisted reforms in their factories and still engaged children of nine years old to work in these factories. In the same vein in Nigeria today, the exploitation of labor, children inclusive is now very prominent. Underaged children engaged by those in the Organized POrivate Sector(OPS) and government contractors are commonplace in a number of states, while these contractors minimize costs by going further to engage cheap labor and procure inferior materials. However, in England, factories, workshops, and mines reforms became a reality after a long and painful struggle against the resistance o...

Nigerians continue to groan as the strangulating grip of the tax regime at all levels of government tightens. The reason for the tax regime by Those-in-Charge is obvious-more revenue-even as Those-in-Charge has decided to take additional loans to finance projects that fall under the category of misplaced priorities. However, during the Napoleonic wars, one of Those in Government in Britain, Pitt, resorted to an income tax to aid the defraying national expenditure. The burden of the war debt was humongous. £ 74,500,000 revenue was required annually to service the debt and other expenditures. This was four times the pre-war budget, which resulted in the multiplication of taxes. During this period, government officials made excusable mistakes or were rather frankly ignorant. Indeed, smuggling and other sharp practices became prominent. There were taxes on the import of manufactured goods and taxes on the export of raw materials. There were also various revenue taxes on consumption wh...

The bad harvest of 1792 in England, the grave discontent among the people, the high rate of unemployment, the prohibitive prices of food items, repression by the government among numerous other factors had adverse effects on its socio-economic and political development. In Nigeria in 2021, insecurity, hunger, poverty, the high unemployment rate, violent crimes, incompetence, misplaced priorities, mediocrity, the beautification of lies and falsehood, the condemnable activities of state actors and their agents have visible prints in every part of the country for the people to see. Indeed, the insinuation is that leadership at all levels has derailed. The ignoble roles played by the likes of John Castle, Oliver, and George Edwards, all provocative agents of the government and spies, have further dented the image of the leadership and also eroded its credibility. The actions of Pitt in the House of Commons and Grenville in the Lords resulted in the passage into law of the Seditious Meetin...

By the 18th century, iron and coal became examples of industries that were capitalist in peculiar ways. From inception both industries were capitalist inclined,since they required heavy expenditure for the actual process of production. The labor force comprised of wage earners working for a master and were not owners of the forge, iron ore or coalmine. Similarly, as early as the 17th century, a sizable number of comparatively small industries emerged namely,soap,brewing, glass and salt-making industries. However, during this period the interest in agriculture was still very strong,with the handicraft men more prominent than the industrial or commercial capitalist. In the second half of the 18th century, the growth of the population prompting the increase in the demand for goods, improved transportation system, unprecedented mechanical inventions, new materials and improved chemical processes resulted in the industrial revolution. Industries such as coal and hardware made use of incre...

Woolen manufacture was England's most prominent industry in 1750,while crude oil has been Nigeria's major income earner for several years.  Stakeholders in the wool industry were based in the West Riding of Yorkshire,here cloths of medium quality were made, In East Anglia, here coarser fustian were produced and in South west of England,where fine and good quality cloth was made. Woolen cloth was a major export product and as a result the industry was closely regulated. Production was still in the hands of small masters in the West Riding and East Anglia. The export price of cloth was fixed as far back as the 10th century,and extraordinary steps were taken to disallow the export of the raw wool. As the market for woolen cloth expanded,the ownership of capital and the control of credit gained prominence. The cottage workers were financially incapable of purchasing large quantity of raw materials neither could they afford to sell the finished product on creditor source for mark...

In 1801,1836 and 1854, the General Enclosure Acts were passed. The General Enclosure Act of 1845 superseded the Parliamentary committee which exmained Enclosure Bills by Enclosure Commissioners,who instead of sitting at Westminister, moved tothe scene. The Enclosure Commissioner presented their findings to Parliament inthe form of GeneralBill forpassage into law. The Suqire expanded his holdings and expanded tothe land of ejected tenants, in addition to common land and waste,while the larger freeholders held on to their claims and increased their holdings. But this,washowever, not the case for smaller freeholders. An Enclosure Bill was not enough to drive a freeholder off the landbecause he had legal claims to his holding. Aspects of the Enclosure which negatively affected the freeholder include : He had to pay his share of the expenses of enclosure,which was an expensive process,varying from about 200 Pounds to nearly 500 Pounds.If unable to pay,then he had to sell off the plot ...

The value of land in England had political, social and economic undertones. Land was mandatory prerequisite for election into Parliament,while in the counties,was a requirement for the right to vote. During this period,the landed class had political power and interestingly, Parliament was controlled by landowners. Furthermore,in the local sphere, the Justice of Peace-the squire-was the most important personality.He was the largest landowner in the village. As Magistrate and leader of the local society,he combined political and social power. In addition,the owner of the land made profits by selling its produce or leasing the land for high rents to tenant farmers. The foregoing resulted in the the emergence of wealthy traders,who bought land as investments which was converted as a means to political power and social ostentation. The House of Commons, influenced by a few big landowners, sponsored bills which became laws. These laws were against the wishes of a large number of small fa...