Grand National Consilidation Trade Union

Question 1

Why did the trade union struggle at first? (3)

Answer 1

• The workers were isolated in individual factories
• Afraid to loose their jobs
• Too scared to stick up to their employers

Question 2

Who is Robert Owen (3)

Answer 2

• he was concerned with how his workers were treated
• he came from a poor family and left school at 10 to work
• with a lot of hard work he owned one of the biggest cotton mills in Britain by 30

Question 3

How did Robert Owen treat his workers? (3)

Answer 3

• he treated them well
• build them homes and schools for their kids
• gave them free medical care

Question 4

How did Robert believe he could improve workers rights? (3)

Answer 4

• if the trade union worked together
• 1883 he formed the GNCTU
• within a week it got 1/2 a million members

Question 5

How did the government react to the GNCTU (4)

Answer 5

• they were scared the movement would get too strong, push for rights and to vote
• they them arrested 6 farm workers from Tolpuddle Dorest
• they were sentenced to work convicts in Australia for 7 years
• they were known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs

Question 6

Discuss how the GNCTU came to an emd (2)

Answer 6

• Robert lead a protest of 30 000 but the government didn’t accept the petition
• the members disagreed on things and the government supporting the employers actions caused the union to grow weak