How far do you agree that the work of Robert Owen at New Lanark was the most important reason for growth of co-operation in the years 1815-65 Flashcards
Robert Owen wrote the first what, testament to his success?
1 million pound cheque
To how long did Owen reduce the working day to?
12 hours
In place of punishment, what system did Owen use?
The silent monitor system
How many hour’s lunch break did Owen’s workers get?
1 ½ hours
Owen did not employ those under the age of what?
10
How did the communalism in New Lanark lead to the growth of co-operatives?
The ideas of communalism and social responsibility that he promoted were manifested in the co-operative movement by similarly progressive individuals equally deliousioned by the current way of operating.
Explain the shop at New Lanark
From 1800 a proto-co-operative shop supported workers in the New Lanark Factory by selling products nearly at cost, the little profits that were made were reinvested into the community with education for children.
In 1834, what profits did Owen announce?
£300 000 that year, despite the poorer economic climate after 1815
What did Owen’s 1834 announcement of £300 000 profit demonstrate
It silenced critics and showed others, such as the co-operatives the potential for economic prosperity through a socially responsible approach.
In what financial publication did Owen advocate the benefits of co-operativism?
The economist
When did Owen preside over the first co-operative congress?
1832
What is a limit of the co-operative congress?
The congress did not last beyond 1835 and Owen’s impetus was equally limited to the early part of the movement.
What did William King do?
Set up a co-operative in Brighton and started the Newspaper “The Co-Operator”
Between which dates did William King’s “The Co-Operator” run?
1828-1830
How much did William King’s “The Co-Operator” cost?
1d
What was the circulation of William King’s “The Co-Operator”?
12 000
Thanks to the efforts of William King in the late 1820s and early 1830s, how many co-operative societies had been established by 1829?
300
Thanks to the efforts of William King in the late 1820s and early 1830s, how many co-operative societies had been established by 1832?
500
Assess William King’s co-operator
Whilst it did not run for long, its large circulation promoted the ideas of co-operation and helped the movement’s growth by increasing the awareness of its ideas.
What happened in 1815 and 1840 that often provoked a growth in the co-operative movement?
Economic Decline
What catalysed expansion of the co-operative movement?
Economic decline in 1815 and 1840s, where hunger politics caused greater demand from workers for co-operatives
When were the Rochdale Pioneers?
1844
How many Rochdale Pioneers?
28
During what event did the Rochdale Pioneers set up their co-operatvie?
1840s depression
What did the Rochdale pioneers do differently?
Had a series of rules that would ensure the longevity of their stores and make it a more professional business structure.
Give examples of the Rochdale Pioneer’s rules for the business?
1) Charging market prices
2) Management elected
3) No credit
4) using good weights and measures to maintain an honest reputation, which was not always the case with co-operatives
What did the Rochdale Pioneer’s rules allow for?
Expansion
Give a limitation of Owen
Owen was just one factory owner out of thousands and so his contribution to the growth of co-operatives was inherently limited.
Judgement?
Owen sowed the seeds for co-operation and provided great impetus early on, but other factors were became important. He facilitated the development of the co-operative system in the early times in the face of vehement government opposition
When were the two labour exchanges set up and where were they?
September 1832 National Equitable Labour Exchange London
Birmingham 1833
