Britain Booklet 4

Question 1

What were knobsticks?

Answer 1

Workers who refused to do the strikes e.g. immigrants with little money

Question 2

What was the Grand National?

Answer 2

The Grand National was a consolidated trade union, and was the most successful one before 1834 and it had over one million members

Question 3

How many members of the Grand National actually paid the fees?

Answer 3

16,000 out of 1 million

Question 4

How did the Grand National fail the mill workers in Derby 1834?

Answer 4

1500 mill workers in Derby were locked out of their work place for failing to leave their unions, despite lasting four months without pay, they eventually returned to work because they weren’t supported enough by the Grand National

Question 5

What was the ‘Document’?

Answer 5

The Document was a piece of paper workers were expected to sign which renounced their commitment to any union

Question 6

What did the combination act do?

Answer 6

The combination act prohibited any trade unions being created

Question 7

When were the combination acts repealed?

Answer 7

1824

Question 8

What was the ASE?

Answer 8

Amalgamated Society of Engineers, founded in 1851

Question 9

Which three unions combined to form the ASE?

Answer 9

Old Mechanics, the Steam Engine Makers’ Society and the General Smiths, this was the beginning of New Model Unionism

Question 10

How did the ASE support London Builders?

Answer 10

The ASE gave three donations of £1000 which allowed them to hold out for six months
This forced a compromise with the employers
This showed the effectiveness of NMU

Question 11

What is another example of an NMU that isn’t ASE?

Answer 11

ASCJ, Amalgamated society of carpentry and joiners

Question 12

What was a limitation of NMUs?

Answer 12

Smaller local trade unions that couldn’t afford to join an NMU were left behind
NMUs would only operate in 1 specific trade

Question 13

Why were trade councils created?

Answer 13

Trade Councils offered a broader form for union activity
Wider geographical area to promote the ideas of an industry within that area
Creating city-wide organisations

Question 14

What was the Sheffield meeting?

Answer 14

Arranged by William Dranford
Series of violent actions undertaken by militant members of the Saw Grinders’ Union in Sheffield to secure better working conditions

Question 15

What are Trade Councils?

Answer 15

Groups of local trade unions that form together in a geographical area to promote the interest of that industry in that area

Question 16

How many workers had joined a trade union by 1874?

Answer 16

1 million

Question 17

What was the molestation of workmen act, 1859?

Answer 17

Gave rights to workers who picketed peacefully during strikes but left the definition of ‘peaceful persuasion’ to the courts

Question 18

How did the 1867 reform act help workers?

Answer 18

Many of the skilled workers gained the vote

Question 19

What did the Trade Union Act, 1871 do?

Answer 19

Completely legalized trade unions

Question 20

Who was Robert Owen?

Answer 20

Robert Owen was an industrialist and a committed reformer who believed strongly in the principle of education and the importance of providing welfare for his employees

Question 21

What were some of the key features in Robert Owen’s New Lanark

Answer 21

Abolished punishments
Working day was shortened to 12 hours including a 1 1/2 hour break
No children under the age of 10 could work
A shop was opened selling high quality good at little more than cost price
Free education on site for children

Question 22

How much annual profit did Robert Owen make at New Lanark?

Answer 22

In 1834, he boasted £300,000 annual profit

Question 23

By 1832, how many cooperative stores were there in Britain

Answer 23

500

Question 24

What were Co-Operatives?

Answer 24

Co-Operatives were an alternative for people which meant they had more control and felt part of a larger community, they were popular because they were run by people interested in the well being of their customers. People who helped out co-operatives received a dividend for being involved to ensure the long term survival of the store

Question 25

In 1844, which new co-operative society was set up by how many men?

Answer 25

Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, by 28 men

Question 26

What problems were the first Co-Operative shops facing?

Answer 26

Couldn’t afford to buy furniture and instead used barrels and planks to make a shop courier with smaller barrels and a plank for queuing members

Local wholesellers didn’t want to trade with the new cooperatives

Question 27

What are some examples of the Rochdale principles?

Answer 27

Profits should be divided up according to the purchases made by each member
Management should be in the hands of elected leaders
Only the best products should be supplied to members

Question 28

What were friendly societies?

Answer 28

Groups of workers who joined together to support one another when the need arose, usually illness or death

Question 29

Why did the government want to regulate the friendly societies after 1789?

Answer 29

They believed they exhibited the same radical ideas as that in France and wanted to regulate them

Question 30

By 1803, what percent of the population were members of a friendly society?

Answer 30

8%

Question 31

By 1815, what percent of the population did friendly societies provide insurance for?

Answer 31

1/3

Question 32

What was a negative for the friendly societies?

Answer 32

The continuous subscription on a weekly basis meant that the poorest workers (who would’ve benefited the most), were unable to join.
Those with irregular employment (season workers such as farming or ship building) were unable to afford the fees
If workers were unable to afford the fees they were often removed from the society

Question 33

Which regions contained the most members of friendly societies?

Answer 33

North-West England - 14.2% of the population in 1815
North-East 10.2% of the population in 1815

Question 34

What did the Friendly Societies Act, 1793 do?

Answer 34

Friendly Societies had to register with a local justice of the peace and send reports of their activities every three months
Each society had to draw up rules to govern themselves and these had to be written and not challenge the interests of the government
Documents had to be kept and given to the courts when necessary

Question 35

By how much did Friendly Society membership outnumber Trade Unions?

Answer 35

4 to 1

Question 36

How many members did friendly societies have after 1815?

Answer 36

Over 1 million

Question 37

Which organisation was the forerunner of the TUC and formed in 1860?

Answer 37

London Trades Council

Question 38

Name the three levels of workers

Answer 38

Apprentice, journeyman and master

Question 39

During which years did Robert Owen run New Lanark?

Answer 39

1799-1828

Question 40

What did Britain?s population increase to from 1750-1850?

Answer 40

6 million to 17 million

Question 41

When were the Tolpuddle Martyrs arrested and what was their crime?

Answer 41

1834 and swearing an oath to try and improve their wages

Question 42

How many members did the Amalgamated Society of Engineers have?

Answer 42

12,000

Question 43

When was the first meeting of the TUC and how many attended?

Answer 43

1868 and 34 representatives

Question 44

How many members did the Grand National have?

Answer 44

Over 1 million