Britain 4: growth of unionism

Question 1

Growth of unionism

What are the 4 factors?

Answer 1

Factory system
French rev
Worker’s protecting themselves
Govt policies

Question 2

Factory system

What were the 3 levels of job?

Answer 2

Apprentice, journeyman, master

Question 3

Factory system

What were you fined if you were 10 minutes late?

Answer 3

2 hours of wages

Question 4

Factory system

What would you be fined if you were caught talking?

Answer 4

1/5 of daily wage

Question 5

Factory system

What did employers use to stop trade unions membership?

Answer 5

The document

Question 6

Factory system

What were the average weekly wages?

Answer 6

12-15 shillings

Question 7

Factory system

Why did workers feel they had to group together?

Answer 7

To balance the power of masters (eg Arkwright vs them)

Question 8

Factory system

How long was the working week?

Answer 8

6 days long for 14 hours

Question 9

French Revolution

What book spread ideas of radicalism?

Answer 9

Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man

Question 10

French Revolution

What rose, highlighting just how low wages were?

Answer 10

Food prices

Question 11

French Revolution & war

How many soldiers returned home from war at the same time?

Answer 11

400,000

Question 12

French Revolution & war

Why did the return of soldiers cause a growth of unions?

Answer 12

People were seeking employment

Question 13

French Revolution

When did the French Revolution start, causing economic discontent?

Answer 13

1793

Question 14

French Revolution

What did the weavers in Wigan do?

Answer 14

Form an association to stop wage reduction

Question 15

Protection for workers

How many signatures did the London Printers get for their petition to increase wages?

Answer 15

539

Question 16

Protection for workers

What did Britain’s population grow from and to 1750-1850?

Answer 16

1750 = 6 million
1850 = 17 million

Question 17

Protection for workers

Combers’ and Weavers’ Association raised how much in subscription fees?

Answer 17

£15,000

Question 18

Govt policies

When were the Combination Acts?

Answer 18

1799 and 1800

Question 19

Govt policies

What were people often prosecuted under as it was harsher?

Answer 19

1797 Unlawful Oaths Act

Question 20

Govt policies

What did the Master and Servant Act do?

Answer 20

Make the breaking of a contract an offence punishable with imprisonment (this included strikes)

Question 21

Govt policies

When was the Master and Servant Act?

Answer 21

1823

Question 22

Govt policies

Between what years were there an average of 10,000 prosecutions a year?

Answer 22

1857-1875

Question 23

Govt policies

When did Peel repeal the Combination Acts?

Answer 23

1824

Question 24

Govt policies

What did the repeal of the combinations acts encourage?

Answer 24

Encouraged workers to find more effective outlets to register their problems

Question 25

Govt policies

Despite govt attempts, how did trade unionism still grow?

Answer 25

Postal service and rail network improved allowing better communication between groups