A complete KS3 History lesson on the Industrial Revolution, asking the enquiry question: Why did Disraeli and Marx deal with the problem of poverty differently?

This lesson compares the lives and ideas of Benjamin Disraeli and Karl Marx, exploring how their backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences shaped their approaches to tackling poverty. Students examine poverty in early 19th-century London, analyse reform and revolution, and debate whether change came through slow reform or radical upheaval. The lesson also introduces the idea of intended and unintended consequences, linking to Marx’s “Frankenstein” metaphor for capitalism.

Use this lesson to help KS3 students understand the social and cultural changes of the Industrial Revolution. It works well as part of a scheme on industrial society and builds strong foundations for GCSE skills in causation, analysis, and evaluation.

See my shop for more KS3 Industrial Revolution lessons, including enquiries on invention, wealth creation, and the lives of the poor.