Reform during a Time of Tremendous Social and Economic Change.

This game examines the various competing ideologies of early industrial Britain such as paternalism, Utilitarianism, free trade/laissez faire capitalism (as represented by the Anti-Corn Law League), and early socialism and radicalism (as represented by a congeries of ex-Chartists, early feminists, and other radical reformers). Set in a London debating society, students will debate policy solutions to thorny problems such as treatment of the poor (the Poor Laws), whether agricultural protectionism or free trade should be the dominant economic policy (the Corn Laws), and whether there ought to be additional factory laws or whether the economic laws of supply and demand should be allowed to take their course. Other issues such as democratization of society, the role of women, temperance, and education, penal, and colonial reform are also addressed in the game. The possibilities and hindrances to effective coalition building among the various single-cause factions is also a key emphasis in the game.

Class Time  

"Condition of England" can be played in 3-4 sessions with 1-2 setup and debrief sessions. Sessions 3 can be shortened or lengthened depending on instructor needs and class size.

Possible Reacting Game Pairings
This game can be used on its own, or with other games. These pairings are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive or prescriptive. One might pair this with French Revolution and Engines of Mischief.

Assignments
You can adjust the assignments based on the desired learning outcomes of your class. "Condition of England" includes Traditional Paper/Research/Thesis-Driven Writing.

All roles are expected to give a speech during the game.

Class Size and Scalability 
This game is recommended for classes with 12-30 students.