'Britain self-sufficiency in food meant lower …

In the 19th century self sufficiency in food meant lower living standards and social conflict in Britain .

•   Population growth from the late 18th century has increased the demand for food grains in Britain . As urban centres expanded and industry grew the demand for agricultural products went up pushing the food grain prices up
•  Under pressure from landed groups the government also restricted the import of crops. The laws allowing the government to do this was termed as the corn law. Unhappy with the high food prices urban dwellers and industrialists forced the abolition of corn laws.
•  After the corn laws were scapped food could be imported more cheaply than it could be produced within the country. British agriculture were unable to compete with the imports. vast areas were left unccultivated . Thousands of men and women were thrown out of work.