9. Growth of Cooperation

Question 1

What are the 4 areas for this plan?

Answer 1

1. Robert Owen - New Lanark
2. Labour Exchange Bazaars
3. Cooperatives
4. Rochdale Pioneers

Question 2

Robert Owen - New Lanark

When was New Lanark operational, and what was its significance?

Answer 2

New Lanark was operational from 1799 to 1828, marking a significant development in industrial history.

Question 3

Robert Owen - New Lanark

How did Robert Owen change the approach to productivity at New Lanark?

Answer 3

Robert Owen abolished punishment as a means of productivity and introduced the ‘silent monitor’ system, which used colors to indicate performance.

black = poor, blue = indifferent, yellow = good, white = excellent

Question 4

Robert Owen - New Lanark

What happened to worker pay during the 1806 shutdown at New Lanark?

Answer 4

Workers were still paid during the 1806 shutdown, which lasted for four months due to a ban on exports to the USA.

Question 5

Robert Owen - New Lanark

What educational initiatives were introduced at New Lanark?

Answer 5

New Lanark emphasised education and community, financing education for local children through a shop. An infant school was established in 1816.

Question 6

Robert Owen - New Lanark

What were the working conditions at New Lanark?

Answer 6

Children under 10 years old were prohibited from working, and the working day was shortened to 12 hours by 1800, including a 1 ½ hour break.

Question 7

Robert Owen - New Lanark

How did New Lanark’s financial success attract attention?

Answer 7

Despite its emphasis on worker welfare and education, New Lanark retained profits of £300,000 by 1834, which attracted great attention, including a visit by Grand Duke Nicholas in 1816.

Question 8

Labour Exchange Bazaars

When and where was the first Labour Exchange Bazaar established, and who was its founder?

Answer 8

The first Labour Exchange Bazaar was established in London in 1832 by Robert Owen, it was known as the National Equitable Labour Exchange.

Question 9

Labour Exchange Bazaars

Where was the second and final Labour Exchange Bazaar set up?

Answer 9

The second and final Labour Exchange Bazaar was set up in Birmingham in 1833.

Question 10

Labour Exchange Bazaars

How did Labour Exchange Bazaars function in terms of currency exchange?

Answer 10

Labour Exchange Bazaars operated on an exchange of currency based on hours worked rather than monetary value.

Goods were exchanged with a credit note indicating the time taken to produce them.

Question 11

Labour Exchange Bazaars

What was the level of support from Trade Unions for Labour Exchange Bazaars?

Answer 11

Both Labour Exchange Bazaars were well supported by Trade Unions.

Question 12

Labour Exchange Bazaars

Why did neither Labour Exchange Bazaar survive longer than two years?

Answer 12

Neither Labour Exchange Bazaar survived longer than two years due to the accumulation of unwanted goods, leading to their closure.

Question 13

Cooperatives

How widespread were cooperatives by 1832, and how many stores were there across Britain?

Answer 13

By 1832, cooperatives were widespread, with 500 stores established across Britain.

Question 14

Cooperatives

How did cooperatives empower ordinary workers?

Answer 14

Cooperatives empowered ordinary workers by making them feel in control and part of a larger community.

Question 15

Cooperatives

How did involvement in cooperatives benefit participants?

Answer 15

Participants in cooperatives received a dividend for their involvement, which ensured the survival of the stores.

Question 16

Cooperatives

What early initiatives contributed to the cooperative movement?

Answer 16

Henry Hetherington and other Chartists formed the Co-operative and Economical Society in 1821, aiming to establish a communal house in Spa Fields.

Question 17

Cooperatives

What was the name of the newspaper founded by William King, when did it run from and for how long?

Answer 17

William King published a newspaper titled “The Cooperator,” which he ran for two years starting from 1827.

Question 18

Cooperatives

Can you provide an example of the success of cooperatives in terms of production and sales?

Answer 18

In 1908, the Clementhorpe bacon factory produced hams and bacon worth £7,300. Additionally, the bakery supplied 482,096 loaves and 1,161,056 pastries, demonstrating the significant output and sales achieved by cooperatives.

Question 19

Rochdale Pioneers

When was the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers founded, and by how many individuals?

Answer 19

The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers was founded in 1844 by 28 men

Question 20

Rochdale Pioneers

Who was the first woman allowed into the Rochdale Pioneers, what year was this?

Answer 20

Eliza Brierley was the first woman in the Rochdale Pioneers, joining in March 1846

Question 21

Rochdale Pioneers

What was the main goal of the Rochdale Pioneers in formalising the cooperative model?

Answer 21

The Rochdale Pioneers aimed to address issues such as debt, unfair weights, trading only in cash, and the sale of poor-quality goods like adulterated food, for example water in milk or chalk in flour

Question 22

Rochdale Pioneers

What were some of the key features of the cooperative model established by the Rochdale Pioneers?

Answer 22

The Rochdale Pioneers introduced elected leaders, balance sheets, the principle of “one member, one vote” (OMOV), and a fixed rate of interest.

Question 23

Rochdale Pioneers

Who published “Self-help by the People” in 1858, and what did it detail?

Answer 23

George Holyoake published “Self-help by the People” in 1858, detailing the history of the Rochdale Pioneers.

Question 24

Rochdale Pioneers

How did the cooperative movement expand after the publication of Holyoake’s book?

Answer 24

By 1862, there were 332 cooperatives, with 251 established since the publication of Holyoake’s book, indicating significant growth and influence of the cooperative movement.