Unionism

Question 1

Cooperative movement

Answer 1

Primary aim is to promote the welfare of its members by working together in pursuit of mutual progress

Question 2

Master and servant act

Answer 2

1823

Question 3

What did John Doherty do?

Answer 3

Formed the grand General Union of the operative spinners in 1829 to get better rights

Question 4

Why were workers unhappy in the early 19th century

Answer 4

High food prices, machines replace men, common land stolen

Question 5

Similarities between trade unions and cooperative movement

Answer 5

Better pay and conditions, pay for membership, working class organisations

Question 6

Differences between trade unions and cooperative movement

Answer 6

Trade unions more forceful,trade unions relied on charity of workforce, trade unions not government approved (until combinations repeal 1824)

Question 7

Why were the cooperative movement more successful than trade unions?

Answer 7

Earned their own money, over 2,000,000 members by 1900, any job type allowed, only £1 for membership which even the poor could afford

Question 8

Why did the government introduce the 1793 friendly societies act?

Answer 8

Regulate emerging groups to keep threat low

Question 9

Why was it a good thing for workers?

Answer 9

They could join a society without fear of reprisals

Question 10

What percentage of people were in a friendly society by 1803?

Answer 10

8%

Question 11

Who couldn’t join a friendly society?

Answer 11

Poor people as they couldn’t pay

Question 12

New model unionism

Answer 12

Large scale unions of skilled workers who used more conservative methods of negotiation rather than militarism

Question 13

Speenhamland system

Answer 13

1795- outdoor relief based on the price of bread and the amount of children

Question 14

Reasons for poor law amendment act

Answer 14

Costs- (speenhamland system was very expensive due to corn laws raising price)
Utilitarianism- prioritising the needs of the many which wasn’t happening at the time
Attitude changes to poor- the poor should look after themselves

Question 15

What did the poor law amendment act do?

Answer 15

Removed outdoor relief
Use of punishing workhouses
Grouping of parishes to manage workhouses
Creation of central board to oversee the system

Question 16

Who managed the new poor law?

Answer 16

Poor law commission of three commissioners- Thomas frank land, George Nicholls, JG shaw-lefevre

Question 17

Andover workhouse scandal

Answer 17

1845- run by an ex-Sargent Mcdougal like a prison. Inmates are with fingers, separation, breaking bones all day, very little food meant bones were taken to eaten the rotten flesh off

Question 18

Impact of the scandal

Answer 18

System was changed to poor law board and brought more under government control

Question 19

When was the ASE founded?

Answer 19

1851

Question 20

How important were the ASE?

Answer 20

Over 1 million members in 1874
Helped London builders achieve their goal
Binding together of smaller unions

Question 21

Government response to new model unionism

Answer 21

Thought it was better as it was a less violent approach and offered a means for compromise

Question 22

Who were the Rochdale pioneers?

Answer 22

28 people who set up a cooperative shop in 1844 which gave a model to cooperative business

Question 23

Principles of the Rochdale pioneers

Answer 23

Money should be provided by themselves and best a fixed rate of interest
Only the best should be given to members
Elected leaders who manage
Some profit goes to education

Question 24

What was the trades Union congress

Answer 24

A grouping of unions which gave them more power by using one voice

Question 25

How did the government suppress trade unions?

Answer 25

1799 combinations acts- organisation of unions illegal
1823 master and servant act- breaking a contract meant imprisonment meaning no strikes
1797 unlawful oaths act- banned swearing an oath in a union