Other working class movements (1832-46)

Question 1

When did the cooperative movement take place?

Answer 1

1844

Question 2

What two things inspired it?

Answer 2

• Owen’s ideas
• It was also about the social and economic values projected by skilled tradesmen who saw themselves as a cut above unskilled labourers

Question 3

What did those who set up the movement believe?

Answer 3

That if they applied the currently popular virtues of thrift and self help in their daily lives, they could continue to enjoy decent living standards even during times of economic downturn

Question 4

Describe the group that pioneered the movement in 1844?

Answer 4

A group of Rochdale weavers set up a cooperative store, by each contributing investments of £1

Question 5

How did it operate?

Answer 5

They sold goods at wholesale and sold them for a profit. The quality of the food was reliable and reasonably priced. The members received a dividend in proportion to their purchases each year

Question 6

Describe the success it enjoyed

Answer 6

By 1850 there were over 100 stores and they formed the Cooperative Wholesale Society in 1863, which continues today

Question 7

How were Friendly Societies maintained?

Answer 7

By regularly paid subscriptions

Question 8

How did they receive a boost in 1793 having long been a feature of British life?

Answer 8

An Act of Parliament granted them legal status on the basis that they were non political, an important distinction for their members

Question 9

What did their members aspire to?

Answer 9

The ideas of self improvement and self help

Question 10

Describe these members

Answer 10

They were mainly skilled artisans who saw themselves as God-fearing, respectable and working class men

Question 11

What had the IR taught them?

Answer 11

To be prepared for periodic variations in the economy and other misfortunes of life

Question 12

What did these societies exist to do?

Answer 12

Provide basic welfare benefits when they were required to

Question 13

Give an example of when this came into effect?

Answer 13

If a husband died, there would be sufficient protection to prevent the widow and children from entering the workhouses

Question 14

What happened to membership?

Answer 14

It continued to grow in both urban and rural areas and numbers soared to about 1.5 million by 1846

Question 15

What other organisations were they far more popular than?

Answer 15

TUs, whose popularity had dwindled after the collapse of the GNCTU

Question 16

How did the Peel government improve the status of the friendly societies?

Answer 16

In 1842, a paid registrar was appointed to administer on behalf of all friendly societies

Question 17

What two purposes did FS come to serve?

Answer 17

• They became a symbol of Victorian working class respectability
• The emphasised their distance from the poorer labouring classes who were often out of work, could never afford the regular subscription and had no security when times were hard