Social Reforms

Question 1

Describe Richard Oastler

Answer 1

• 1789-1861
• Tory radical
• strongly opposed to universal suffrage and trade unions
• supported abolition of slavery and reforms of Poor Law
• campaigned for factory reform by striking and mass protest
• spent 4 years in prison for debt but continued to campaign

Question 2

Describe the Factory Acts

Answer 2

• initially dealt with just pauper children, eventually dealt with all children and women
• gave power to inspect factory premises
• limited working hours to 10
• each act had to be wrung out of the government reluctantly

Question 3

Describe Lord Shaftesbury

Answer 3

• strong religious conviction
• social and economic reformer
• 1826- MP in rotten borough of Woodstock (seat controlled by Duke of Marlborough)
• 1827- sitting on 4 separate parliamentary committees investigating social issues
• led Lunacy Laws to improvement
• 1833- asked to lead a movement for factory reform
• introduced Ten Hours Bill
• 1840- Children’s Employment Commission
• Mines and Collieries Act
• supported movements to stop boys being employed as chimney sweeps
• believed strongly in education
• head of Ragged Schools Union

Question 4

Describe the Ten Hours Bill

Answer 4

limited the hours that children under 9 could work

Question 5

Describe the Mines and Collieries Act

Answer 5

• 1842

* prevented women and children working underground

Question 6

Describe the Ragged Schools Union

Answer 6

• 1842
• set up Ragged Schools
• educated those too poor to attend normal schools
• breakfasts and dinners given to stay alert
• children sent by train into the countryside to get fresh air and exercise, taught them to carry out useful tasks (girls- housemaids, nannies; boys- learn a trade)