Historical: England - (1820-1837) Industrial Period The Industrial Revolution reached its fruition in England at this time. In the early part of the era, the country suffered economic downturns resulting in the Corn Laws that regulated the trade of grain. The labor movement began with the legal recognition of unions, the end of slavery and laws limiting child labor. Charles Dickens started publishing at this time, serving as a social critic for the era. Women’s gowns returned to a natural waist, nipped in by corsets.