Answer:
(a) In the 16th century, the price of wool increased leading rich farmers to expand wool production to earn profits. For this purpose enclosures were necessary. (b) The farmers were keen to improve sheep breeds and ensure good pasture for them. Therefore, they began to enclose common land and grew hedges around their holdings to separate their property from others. (c) The early enclosures were usually created by individual landlords and not supported by the church or state. But after the mid-18th century the enclosure movement swept throughout the countryside. By 1850, 6 million acres of land were enclosed and the British Parliament had passed 4,000 Acts legalizing these enclosures. (d) The aim of this Enclosure Movement (18th century) was to increase grain production. During this century, the English population expanded rapidly which increased demand for food grains. (e) As Britain industrialized, more people began to live in urban areas. As the urban population grew the demand for food grains increased as did the prices. (f) By the end of the 18th century, France was at war with England. This disrupted trade and the import of food grains from Europe. Prices of food grains skyrocketed leading landowners to enclose land and increase area under grain cultivation. As profits flowed in, landowners pressurized Parliament to pass the Enclosure Acts.
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