How much influence had the working men and women of Britain achieved by 1870?

Question 1

What two main factors need to be discussed?

Answer 1

unionism and (co-operatives and friendly societies)

Question 2

How should you approach this question?

Answer 2

Two sides to each factor

Question 3

When was the TUC founded?

Answer 3

1868

Question 4

How many members didi the TUC have?

Answer 4

More than 1 million

Question 5

How can the TUC be described?

Answer 5

A vessel for representation

Question 6

How did the TUC give workers influence?

Answer 6

This gave working people significant influence as the reduced role of the individual was then represented by a huge collective union, wielding huge influence against industrialists and dressing the failures of previous localised guilds and unions.

Question 7

What was the TUC’s limitation?

Answer 7

Their limitation was that they are still not completely a unified group, it is merely a forum for many different unions to meet and discuss, so could not impose co-operation.

Question 8

When was a general trades union established?

Answer 8

1834

Question 9

How did a general trades union give workers more influence and address previous criticisms of unions?

Answer 9

Previously a limitation had been that unions and trade guilds had only been for skilled workers, whilst other were mere informal labour changes operating from pubs. This shows that the majority of working men and women, who were unskilled labourers, now had a vessel through which they could gain collectivised influence.

Question 10

How did Chartism give workers more influence?

Answer 10

Chartism was a union in all but name and held their first convention in London in the winter of 1839.

Question 11

Give an example of what the ASE did?

Answer 11

ASE supported builders in London with 3000 pounds, Wealthy. Successful union demonstrates departure from small, ill equipped unions.

Question 12

What did the ASCJ demonstrate?

Answer 12

New model unionism was spreading across the country

Question 13

Why were new model unions very significant?

Answer 13

They represented skilled workers whose professions were vital to the economic success of the country and the mid-victorian boom.

Question 14

What had the government’s response to trade unions been before 1850?

Answer 14

Before 1850 the government response had been rather negative towards unionism as their laissez-faire economics meant that they sympathised with the employer rather than worker as they were making so much money for the country.

Question 15

What did the repealing of the combination act in 1824 signify?

Answer 15

This would suggest that there was a more progressive attitude towards unionism in Britain, and that opportunities for greater political influence were slowly being granted.

Question 16

Give an maple of failure of a strike by unions.

Answer 16

In 1834 1500 mill workers in Derby were locked out of their workplace for failing to leave their union. These workers lasted for 4 months without pay yet eventually were forced to return to work as they weren’t supported but the Grand National

Question 17

Give a chronological judgement of the impact of unionism

Answer 17

This shows how at the early stages the workers were gaining little influence against their employers, but this was something that deceased as time progressed, suggesting that the working people got more influence towards the end of this time period.

Question 18

What did the actions of the Chartists mar?

Answer 18

The violence of the chartists tarred the repuition of unions, it was not until 1867 act where skilled workers were given the vote that the government began to believe again that they were worthy.

Question 19

What did Robert Owen believe?

Answer 19

Happier workers means harder workers

Question 20

Assess Owen’s work at New Lanark

Answer 20

This was significant as each worker gained slightly more freedom and therefore influence. Yet whilst Owen’s 2500 workers benefited greatly by it, it was extensively localised and this was a huge limitation. Perhaps more significant however was the fact that he inspired some individuals to take his ideas elsewhere.

Question 21

How did Co-operatives help to give workers more influence?

Answer 21

Co-Operatives gave workers a sense of control, belonging and community, when most of the politicians and industrialists were increasingly individualists and profit-motivated, giving them more influence within their lives.

Question 22

By 1803 what percentage of the population were members of friendly societies?

Answer 22

8%

Question 23

By 1816 what proportion of the population had insurance from friendly societies?

Answer 23

⅓ of the population

Question 24

How did friendly societies help the workers of Britain to gain influence?

Answer 24

This was good for gaining influence for the working population because, as much more of the population had protection from work, which allowed them to exert more influence in the work place. Their success was furthered as they were providing pensions, which means that the state would want to preserve them as the state would no longer have to provide pension for them.

Question 25

What was a limitation of friendly societies?

Answer 25

Continuous subscription was imposed for membership of the friendly societies, which gave them an air of exclusivity. This limited the true universality of the increased influence that the insurance would allow workers to gain. This is because the very poorest, as well as those with seasonal work, could not afford these subscriptions, so their influence was not increased by the friendly societies, only the skilled worker’s was.

Question 26

What were co-operatives limited by?

Answer 26

The number and location of their shops. More prolific in the north of the England.

Question 27

What didi the CO-operatives not try to achieve?

Answer 27

Political change or improve workers’ lives on a national level, mostly in the north.