Entrance Exams : Features Of Working Class Activism (before 1834)

Question 1

What were trade unions

Answer 1

A group of workers organised together to win a better deal at work and achieve common goals
Initiated by skilled tradesmen
The growth of trade unions mirror the growing power of the employers

Question 2

Example of an early trade society

Answer 2

London printers in 1793 petitioned to their master for an increased wage
They obtained 539 signatures

Question 3

Weavers trade union

Answer 3

1799 organised themselves in an association to stop wage reduction
By may the association of weavers had 14 branches in Lancashire

Question 4

What was GNCTU and what impact did it have

Answer 4

Grand national consolidated trade union
Industrialisation led to the postal service and railway networks to improve communication
Before 1834 they claimed to have 1 million members however only 16,000 of them paying their fee led to their collapse

Question 5

How did employers react to trade unions

Answer 5

Widespread use of the document which made workers sign denouncing any commitment to trade unions

Question 6

Master and servant act 1823

Answer 6

A strike which results in incomplete work led to workers being prosecuted
However not until after 1834

Question 7

Combination acts

Answer 7

1799/1800 made unions illegal

A reaction to the perceived threat in France

Question 8

Combination act repeal

Answer 8

1824, after 1820 the Food prices were lower by a third so could afford to be more sympathetic
Agricultural labourers started rising up which threatened the landowners as they were supposed. To be docile

Question 9

Where were the major strikes in 1810

Answer 9

Lancashire which lasted more than 4 months

Question 10

What is a friendly society

Answer 10

An organisation of men that came together to provide assistance and benefits for each other: provided insurance, saving schemes and pensions

Question 11

When and what was the friendly societies act

Answer 11

1793- required to register themselves with local JPs and send reports of their activities every 3 months

Question 12

How effective was the friendly societies act

Answer 12

Saw a rapid growth due to legal recognition that granted them protection of their funds

Question 13

By 1801 what percentage of the population were members of a ‘friendly’

Answer 13

8%

And by 1815 they were able to provide insurance for 1/3 of the population

Question 14

Why were the government threatened by friendly societies

Answer 14

The vast amount of money that was involved

And a perceived threat after the French Revolution in 1789

Question 15

What was the benefits of membership

Answer 15

They often gave workers hospitality from other societies in the area

Question 16

Example of a friendly society

Answer 16

The Royal Foresters in Yorkshire

Question 17

Disadvantage of friendly societies

Answer 17

The financial commitment which required continuos subscription excluded the poorest members of society

Question 18

When and what was the swing riots

Answer 18

1830- uprising of agricultural workers from eastern and southern parts of England

Question 19

What did the swing rioters do

Answer 19

Demanded increased wages, abolition of threshing machines

Burnt crops and destroyed threshing machines

Question 20

Consequences of the swing riots

Answer 20

1976 people arrested and 19 executed

Question 21

Why did the swing riots shock the government

Answer 21

Agricultural workers are seen as docile

Question 22

Peterloo massacre

Answer 22

1819- Henry hunt spoke at a rally which attracted 60000 people

Question 23

Consequence of the peterloo massacre

Answer 23

The sabre charge dispersed the crowd -18 people killed and 400 wounded

Question 24

The Luddites

Answer 24

1811-1816 British weavers and textile workers who objected to mechanisation

Question 25

What did the Luddites do

Answer 25

Destroyed frames - frame breaking act 1812

By 1812- 1000 frames broken in Nottingham costing £6000-£10,000

Question 26

Pentrich rising

Answer 26

1817- aimed to overthrow the government and end poverty and wanted to end national debt

Question 27

How did the government act with Pentrich rising

Answer 27

Government used agent pro actors to cause the uprising -400 rebels

Question 28

New Lanark mill

Answer 28

Operated by Robert Owen 1790-1820

Question 29

How was new Lanark run

Answer 29

A shop was established which sold quality good at cost Price and the profit went back to the workers in the form of ‘free’ education for their children
A ‘silent’ monitor was used to indicate the efforts of the workers which encouraged then
Work day shortened to no more than 12hors after 1800, inc. a 1 1/2 meal break

Question 30

By 1832 how many co-operative stores existed

Answer 30

500

Question 31

What did William king publish

Answer 31

‘The co-operator’ after 1827 he was able to circulate the ideas of cooperation

Question 32

Labour exchanges

Answer 32

Exchange goods for a credit note with the amount of time it took to make the product and you can exchange it for something that took the same amount of time

Question 33

Example of a labour exchange

Answer 33

1832 national equitable labour exchange

Question 34

Co-operative and economical society

Answer 34

1821, a group of working men formed a co-operative with the intention of establishing a commercial house