The Making Of Modern Britain #10: Reforms - Working Class

Question 1

When was the Coal Mines Regulation Act?

Answer 1

1908

Question 2

What did the 1908 Mines Act do?

Answer 2

Limited the working day to 8 hours

Question 3

Success of 1908 Coal Mines regulation Act

Answer 3

Might help miners health sickness and reduce issues by exhaustion

Question 4

Limitation of 1908 Coal Mines Regulation Act

Answer 4

• Possible miner resentment if payed by hour - impact on production?
• only for miners

Question 5

When was the Trade Boards Act?

Answer 5

1909

Question 6

What did the 1909 Trade Boards Act do?

Answer 6

Boards negotiated a minimum wage for the ‘sweated trades’ (intricate work, tended to be home-based) eg, tailors, lacemakers, box makers.

Question 7

Success of 1909 Trade Boards Act

Answer 7

Minimum wage protects from unemployment , stop sweat shops

Question 8

Limitation of 1909 Trade Boards Act

Answer 8

Abuse still happened, not unionised, hard to protect every worker

Question 9

When was the Shops Act?

Answer 9

1911

Question 10

What did the 1911 shops act do?

Answer 10

Shortened working wk to 60 hours, including a half day holiday.

Question 11

Success of 1911 shops act

Answer 11

Protection from too much work and exhaustion: could spend time with family

Question 12

Limitation of 1911 shops act

Answer 12

If payed by hour limits income, shops could find a way around half day closing

Question 13

When was the Workmen’s compensation act?

Answer 13

1906

Question 14

Success of the 1906 Workmen’s Compensation act

Answer 14

all employees could receive compensation for injuries sustained at work

Question 15

Limitation of 1906 Workmen’s compensation act

Answer 15

• in theory, it was good, but it was difficult and costly to prove the liability of employers
• many cases could not be brought to court without trade union support