Tolpuddle Martyrs 1834

Question 1

Why were the Government and wealthy afraid of the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

Answer 1

Government and wealthy feared those in authority because of the French Revolution in 1789. They wanted the poor ‘kept in their place’.

Question 2

Who was apart of the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

Answer 2

1833, 6 farm labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset set up the ‘Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers’ (a form of trade union)

Question 3

What did the Tolpuddle Martyrs protest about?

Answer 3

They wanted to protest about their low wages; 6 shillings a week when the average wage for a farm labourer was 10 shillings a week.

Question 4

Names

Answer 4

Who were they?
 George Loveless
 James Loveless (brother to George)
 James Brine
 James Hammett
 Thomas Standfield
 John Standfield (son of above)

Question 5

-What happened to the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

Answer 5

They were arrested in 1834 and sentenced to 7 years transportation to Australia. They arrived in Sydney Harbour on 17th August 1834 after 111 days. They then had to walk to the farms where they would work. Thomas Standfield (aged over 50) had to walk 150 miles!

Question 6

What were the peoples response to the Tolpuddle Martyrs arrest?

Answer 6

-THIS LED TO MASS PROTESTS in support of the men who were seen as ‘martyrs’.
-A demonstration was held in London - attended by 100,000 people and a petition with 200,000 signatures was given to parliament complaining about the harsh treatment of the men but this was ignored by the Home Secretary Lord Melbourne.
-Whilst the men served their sentence in Australia, trade unions supported their families with financial donations.

Question 7

What was the government’s response to the peoples response to the arrest of the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

Answer 7

3 years later in 1837 the government pardoned and released the Tolpuddle Martyrs and they returned home to a hero’s welcome.