Early Trade Societies

Question 1

Emerging factory system

Answer 1

Created an increased demand for workers who gathered together in one place to create class consciousness as a mass of working class is experiencing the same conditions together

Question 2

Industrial revolution

Answer 2

Change from a cottage system that was on a much smaller scale so they had a direct connection with the employer

Question 3

Change for employees due to the industrial revolution

Answer 3

Employees became wage slaves in a mass of people under an industrialist so lost their independence and control of their working live so instead they joined trade societies e.g London printers

Question 4

Early trade society uses

Answer 4

Initiated by skilled tradesmen such as printers, mechanics and cobblers who sought to protect both their trade and their bargaining hand which sets values above those of unskilled

Question 5

London printers

Answer 5

1793 which petitioned their masters for an increase in their fees given the rising cost of living. They obtained 539 signatures

Question 6

Economic policies

Answer 6

Adam smith wealth of nations 1776 promoted laissez faire economics which the government adopted to benefit the manufacturers and the landed gentry
This meant that employers were more independent so were able to have bad conditions

Question 7

Population growth

Answer 7

Between 1750 and 1850 the population grew from 6 million to 17 million which reinforced the freedom of the employers to set bad conditions since if their workers left then others could be easily found

Question 8

Napoleonic wars

Answer 8

1793-1815 created high prices of staple goods for the w/c - price of bread rose 6 times so created economic discontent so caused a greater need for mutual support

Question 9

Weavers in Wigan

Answer 9

1799 weavers in Wigan organised themselves into a trade union to strengthen their hand in stopping wage reductions and by 1799 the association of weavers had 14 branches

Question 10

Creation of the industrial m/c

Answer 10

Caused trade unions because they were the factory owners who were driven by profit so wanted cheap workers
Caused by the industrial revolution

Question 11

Creation of the middle class

Answer 11

Came out of the factory system since they were living in back to back houses moving to urban towns

Question 12

Communication

Answer 12

Postal, canals, railway from the 1820’s made it easier for trade unions to grown such as the GNCTU in 1834 with 1 million members

Question 13

GNCTU

Answer 13

Before 1834 had 1 million members and presented the impression of a united organisation of workers from Robert Owen
However it remained as a body of independent unions and couldn’t support them when on strike since only 16000 had paid the sub fee and also caused widespread use of the document

Question 14

Government policies

Answer 14

Repeal of the combination acts in 1824 meant a more enlightened attitude under the more open minded Robert peel which reflected a desire to encourage more effective outlets for workers
However it reflected the circumstances. After 1820 food prices were 1/3 lower and gross national product rose by 16.8% so they could afford to be sympathetic

Question 15

Master and servant act 1823

Answer 15

Breaking of a contact an offence punishable with imprisonments e.g a strike which resulted in the failure to complete work was considered a breach of agreement between 1857 and 1875 there were 10000 prosecutions each year

Question 16

What threatened the government

Answer 16

When unionism spread to the country side - agricultural labourers struggled with new machinery because it reduced the need for labour and created a strong degree of antagonism which had already spilled out into violence of the swing riots in 1830

Question 17

Tolpuddle martyrs

Answer 17

March 1834 six labourers had joined a trade union to protest against the 6 shillings a wage and were sentenced under the 1797 unlawful oaths act which carried a 7 year sentence and transportation to Australia

Question 18

Corn laws

Answer 18

1815- maintained the high price so growth in hunger politics

Question 19

When was the first railway line built

Answer 19

1826 from Stockton to Darlington

Question 20

More widespread communications

Answer 20

1791 Sheffield corresponding society and 1792 London corresponding society