Rebecca Riots - Explain why the Rebecca Riots Occurred

Question 1

Economic gainst

Answer 1

• Toll gates
• Short Leases
• Tithes
• Poverty
• Bad Winter 1838/9 and Poor Harvest 1839
• Demand for farm produce fell
• Growing use of lime fertilizer
• Fall in income and increase in outgoings
• Fear of the workhouse

EXAMPLE: Attack and destruction of tollgates

Question 2

Social

Answer 2

• Relationship between landlord and tenant
• Absentee landlords
• Language - Landlords spoke English; Tenants spoke Welsh
• Power of landlords as local JPs and MPs
• Ceffyl Pren

EXAMPLE: Threats made against landowners and solicitors e.g. threatening letters; perceived injustices against the community e.g. Salmon weirs attacked

Question 3

Political

Answer 3

• Lack of the vote = removed a peaceful means of protests
• Those who could vote could not vote freely due to landlord intimidation
• Lack of political power was held by landowners e.g. as JPs and MPs
• Political power was held by landowners e.g. as JPs and MPs
• Hatred of the New Poor Law system - particularly the “Bastardy Clause”

EXAMPLE: Workhouses attacked e.g. Carmarthen Workhouse

Question 4

Religious

Answer 4

• Tenants = Non-Conformist; Landlords = Church of England
• Tithe payments + Church Rates - farmers paying to a church they don’t belong to i.e. Church of England

EXAMPLE: Threats made against clergy e.g. threats made against Church of England clergy who used non-conformists’ tithes to pay for a Church of England school

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Economic reasons