Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A Level Britain > Unionism and Co-operation > Flashcards

Unionism and Co-operation Flashcards

1
Q

Trade Union

A

Workers from them industry banding together as one force to protect their workplace rights

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Trade Societies

A

Existed since 17th century mostly concerned with protecting skilled trades

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why did original trade societies expand to unskilled labourers

A

Industrialisation brought large amounts of unskilled labourers working in close environments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What were two reasons for industrialisation causing growth in trade unions

A
  • Factory system created increased demand for workers so they felt more importance, it also brought workers into working closely together
  • Laissez faire free trade ideology at the time meant government left all business practice up to the employer and didn’t enforce any regulations for workers, resulted in exploitation of workers resulting in trade unions forming
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why were trade societies small and localised

A

They aimed to protect the trades of skilled men from the industrial unskilled workers and machinery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Closed Shop

A

Practice of only employing people who were members of the trade society, to protect their own interests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the 1793 example of a successful trade society

A

London Printers who used a 539 signature petition to persuade employers to increase wages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why could the early trade societies command significant improvements

A

They were skilled labourers so couldn’t be easily replaced meaning the employer had to adhere to their demands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where did the strength of trade unions lie

A

In collective bargaining or threat of collective withdrawal of labour, a strike was popular and increasingly used in 18,19th century

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

knobstick

A

Someone who was socially outcast for continuing to work during a strike and undermining the movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How did employers minimise the threat of strikes

A

They would draft in new immigrants due to the growing population who would be desperate to work so these people would work when strike action started

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What did Britains population rise by between 1750 and 1850

A

6million to 17million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How did population growth weaken trade unions and eliminate effectiveness of old trade societies strike action

A

If workers weren’t happy with their working conditions they may just be fired and there workers found due to the huge population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Artisan

A

Skilled worker who uses traditional hand making techniques for production, less efficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why was the war with France in 1793 so fundamental to the growth of trade unions

A

Created large scale economic discontent as rising food prices made cost of living more expensive, bringing the issue of low wages into focus for all workers, not just skilled workers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Difference between trade societies and trade unions

A

Trade Unions were on a much larger scale and carried out a more formal practice for members

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How did mechanisation influence early trade societies

A

Artisan labourers would form societies to protect they won skilled interest in the face of unskilled mechanised labour, so trade societies didn’t work in the industries interests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

in 1799 who organised into an association to protect wage reductions

A

Weavers in Wigan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How many branches did the association of weaver grow to

A

14

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What was the system prior to the factory system and how did it operate

A

Jorneyman apprentices and master system, skilled labour would need to be taught with a close personal relationship between master and journeyman

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How did the switch from apprentice and master to factory system cause trade unions to grow

A

Direct line of communication and personality was lost between master and employee as there would be so many employees, employer had different goals to employee, so the only way employees could match employers power was by binding together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What act made membership of a union illegal

A

Combinations Acts 1799 1800

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What helped unions to be able to reach out and connect with eachother and grow in the face of combinations acts

A

Postal service and railways developments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What did unionism need to be formal and properly heard

A

Unions connecting with unions, general organisation for all unions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What was the first effort at creating a union of unions

A

1818 Philanthropic Society in Lancashire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What happened to the Philanthropic Society

A

Difficult to unite all trades as they all had different interests, then fell apart after leaders were arrested

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

When were the combinations acts repealed

A

1824

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

When were the new combination acts passed

A

1825

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What did John Doherty do in 1829

A

Created the Grand general union of the operative spinners of GB and Ireland, these weren’t successful but showed growing determination of a broader trade union organisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Who started 1818 strikes

A

Cotton Spinners of Lancashire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What else happened in the 1818 strikes

A

Supported by weavers, colliers, machine makers, showing a broader nationwide strike action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

How did the government end the 1818 strike

A

Arrested five leading members

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Why was the 1818 strike significant

A

They may not have achieved immediate aims, played a part in the long term of increasing pressure on the government to repeal the combination acts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What was the most successful networked union and when

A

1834 Grand National consolidated trades union

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What was the grand nationals membership

A

1 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What were the two impacts of the grand national, and were these positive

A
  • United organisation for the interests of working class solidarity
  • Generated widespread use of the document

These were mostly negative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What was the document

A

A paper that employees would have to sign denouncing any commitment to a trade union

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Why did the grand national have divided interests

A

Made up of members of so many different trades that it had so many different interests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Where did one of the main failures of the grand national lie

A

The strike action was ineffective as they lacked the funds to pay workers when they were out on strike

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

How many of the 1 million members payed the subscription fee

A

16,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What event showed the lack of funds for the grand national

A

1834 1,500 mill workers in derby were locked out of their place of work for joining their union, but due to lack of pay from the union they eventually all went back to work within 4 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

How was the document so effective

A

Essentially forced workers to abandon unions if they wanted any employment, employment under bad conditions was better than the meagre funds provided by grand national for striking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

When and how did the grand national collapse

A

1835 due to the financial burden of supporting strikers with little to no funds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Why were governments opposed to trade unions

A

They were firmly laissez fair free trade so believed any regulation impacted profits and trade unions would impact profits and employers interests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

How did war with France cause government opposition to trade unions to intensify

A

Trade unions were seen as political attacks on British elite at a time when the elite was very afraid of revolution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Why were 1797 unlawful oaths acts preferred to the combinations acts

A

These carried a harsher sentence for those in trade unions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Why were the combinations acts passed and then repealed in 1824

A

They were passed in reaction to the ruling classes perceived dangers in the war with France so after 1815 when war had subsided they fell out of favour and were repealed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What did the repeal of the combinations act show

A

A more sympathetic government attitude to trade unions to try better allow them to express concerns, still against strike action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Why did the government attitude to trade unions lighten in 1824

A

Times of peace and economic prosperity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Why was the 1825combination of workmen act passed

A

Handloom weavers in stockport

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Master and servant act when and what

A

1823 made breaking of a contract punishable by imprisonment, strikers could be punished under this act.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What did the master and servant act show

A

Government may have more sympathetic attitude to employees and trade unions in 1820s but still acted vastly in employers favour as they favoured profit and economic progress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

How many people were prosecuted under the master and servant act a year between 1857 and 1875

A

10,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

What was the cause of the tolpuddle martyrs

A

The government were scared of the growing discontent and strike action shown by the swing riots in the agruclutrual industry, caused by mechanisation and low wages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What and when was the tolpuddle martyrs

A

1834 government sentenced 6 men to transportation under unlawful oaths acts for forming their own trade union for higher farm wages in Dorset, was done to make an example out of trade unions even though they were legal to limit their power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

ASE when and what

A

1851 the amalgamated society of engineers was set up by binding together three smaller unions to protect interests of skilled labourers in the face of industrialisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

New model unionism

A

development of larger unions of skilled workers who used more conservative viable methods like negotiation instead of militant strikes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Who was general secretary of ASE

A

William Allan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Aristocracy of labour

A

The idea that critiqued high skilled elitist workers who were already better paid, like engineers, miners, shipbuilders, cotton spinners. Excluded other working class

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

What was the ASE administrative system

A

Elected executive council was In charge with a paid general secretary managing the day to day.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

How could ASE generate more funds to pay for strike action

A

£12,000 in 1852 due to the better financial positions of its membership and better organisational structure, membership tax rather than traditional voluntary donations

62
Q

What was the most influential ASE action and when

A

1859 provided £1000 to London Builders strike fund allowing them to successfully reduce their working day

63
Q

How did ASE actions in the London builders set an example

A

They showed direct help to working class interests by a trade union causing other traditional unions to reconsider their methods to model off the ASE and stop localised unions

64
Q

What union was created in 1860 modelled of the ASE

A

Amalgamated Society of carpenters and joiners

65
Q

What methods did William Allan prefer

A

Rational negotiation with employers appearing respectable and strength in large numbers / over using strike action

66
Q

What circumstances in the latter half of the 19th century greatly helped ASE

A
  • Increasing industrialisation growing in technical industries required skilled labourers so ASE membership had economic leverage
  • Peaceful negotiations were a very popular method in victorian society
  • Found favour with the general public by ensuring stability in industry, favour with the public meant they gained favour in parliament due to the change in voting system
67
Q

Why did ASE model not work for some other unions

A

Unskilled labour unions didn’t have the same negotiation leverage that the skilled labour unions had so they still had to rely on more militant means to achieve demands.

68
Q

What was the number of members of trade unions by 1874

A

1 million

69
Q

Weaknesses of traditional unions

A
  • lack of funds
  • Small and localised
  • Unskilled labourers so had no negotiating leverage
70
Q

What two men initially drove the idea for a new united trade union in the 1860s

A

George Potter
William Dronfield

71
Q

What was George Potters motivation

A

Wanted localised and national unions to work together for workers rights

72
Q

What was William Dronfields motivation

A

Paper he gave to a middle class society defending trade unions was rejected he realised more needed to be done for working class rights

73
Q

London Trades Council when and what

A

1860 represented working people of London and started the movement of multiple other trade councils being established in major industrial cities

74
Q

What did the trades councils promote

A

Broader forum for union activity whilst retaining regional individuality which held back the truly national cause

75
Q

What did George Potter try to do

A

Introduce a labour parliament that would meet annually but was rejected by London trade council leadership as they felt it would undermine their control over trade union activities

76
Q

Trade council

A

Group of smaller localised unions with their own interests usually more traditional that came together to form a council, council usually ran by more conservative new model unionists

77
Q

What happened to George potters idea despite its rejection by London trades council in 1866

A

Meeting in Sheffield was organised attended by 138 delegates of unions with intentions to arrange an annual conference

78
Q

What did the Sheffield meeting in 1866 produce

A

United Kingdom alliance of organised trades, promised to bind unions in mutual support

79
Q

Who arranged the Sheffield meeting in 1866

A

William Dronfield

80
Q

When and why did United Kingdom alliance of organised trades collapse

A

1867 due to problems with finance and involvement in the Sheffield outrages in the year prior

81
Q

Sheffield outrages 1866

A

Series of violent actions taken by saw grinders union to secure better working conditions, murder of employers and several explosions

82
Q

Who was prompted by William Dronfields efforts

A

Samuel Nicholson, president of Manchester trades council

83
Q

What did Samuel Nicholson do

A

Arranged a general trades congress to discuss union issues in 1868 which was attended by 34 delegates, regard as the foundation of the TUC

84
Q

What was the main reason for the improved relations between skilled and unskilled labour unions at the TUC in 1868

A

A growing need to protect union funds with guarantees of union status, Amalgamated unions with large funds sought national general body to protect funds

85
Q

What event caused unions to need to seek better safeguarding measures for their funds

A

Hornby vs Close case in 1867 which didn’t make it illegal for trade union funds to be stolen by treasurers after issue with Bradford boilermakers, deemed trade unions unlawful organisations

86
Q

Why did the 1825 combinations act do

A

criminal sanctions for picketing and pressuring workers not to work

87
Q

What were trade unions before 1871

A

Quasi-Legal

88
Q

Why was the TUC so significant

A

Established a genuinely national organisation of trade unions to protect British labour, put working class interests into British politics

89
Q

How did the TUC change and become more influential

A

Increased its political influence

90
Q

What two events made the TUC more political

A
  • Supported Labour Representation League which would help put working class representatives in parliament
  • Creation of an elected working mans party with two liberal candidates
91
Q

Reasons why the government favoured NMU

A
  • Respectable conservative approach
  • Skilled trades interests had to be considered by government because of their economic value for manufacturing techonologies needed to carry on growth
  • Government was becoming increasingly more answerable to public opinion
92
Q

Molestation of workmen act when and what

A

1859 allowed more rights to picketers to show some reform but maintained definition of rights to courts as to maintain control over unions power

93
Q

Why did the government respect the London trades council

A

They had the power to mobilise thousands of people at the general election and influence voters so had to be considered by parliament, 1867 extended the vote to skilled working men so government had to be more considerate to unions

94
Q

What did the 1867 royal commission investigate

A

Whether the legal status of trade unions should be improved as there was more sympathies to trade unions following NMU

95
Q

Majority report of the royal commission 1867

A

Degree of legalisation with some restriction, separation of strike funds from general funds, veto of certain union rules

96
Q

Minority report of the royal commission 1867

A

Full legalisation with no limitations and full security of funds

97
Q

Which report did the new liberal government favour

A

The minority report

98
Q

trade union act when and what

A

1871, result of the minority report gave unions full legalisation with right to strike and full legal protection of funds

99
Q

Mutualism

A

Well being is dependent upon people offering mutual support rather than competing with each other

100
Q

Who created New Lanark and who

A

Robert Owen in 1799

101
Q

What was Robert Owens belief about employment

A

He believed in not only profit but good welfare and experience of workers, he wanted people to improve themselves as he believed this would benefit everyone.

102
Q

What was Owens principle

A

Character was created by environment so to promote better human beings they would need a good environment

103
Q

How did Owen enact his principle

A

At new lanark he promoted a co-operative approach to working environments and communities rather than a comabtitive one

104
Q

What was Owen silent monitor system incentive system

A

A wooden block of different colours would be hung above everyones workplace with different colours representing c=varying amounts of good behaviour and good work, appealing to peoples sense of social standing to want to behave well and work hard.

105
Q

What did Robert Owen strongly oppose

A

Punishment

106
Q

What measures were introduced at new lanark

A
  • maximum 12 hour working day
  • only age 10+ children allowed to work
  • free education for children
  • Meal breaks
  • Low cost shop
  • Furlough schemes in cotton embargo
107
Q

What profit did Owen claim new lanark made

A

300,000

108
Q

What did Henry Hetherington form in 1821

A

Co-operative and economical society

109
Q

Who published the co-operator newspaper which spread the ideas of co-opretive movement and when

A

Physician William King in 1827

110
Q

What formed in the spirit of Owens co-opertive communalism

A

Co-operative stores that shared profit with customers

111
Q

How many Co-operative stores by 1832

A

500

112
Q

What did Co-operative stores aim to do

A

Provide affordable prices whilst maintaining quality

113
Q

Labour Exchange Bazaars

A

People could exchange goods they created for credit notes on how many hours it took to make then use these notes to buy other goods

114
Q

Why did Labour Exchange Bazaars fail

A

Accumulated a mass of unwanted goods

115
Q

When was a labour exchange bazaar created in London

A

1832

116
Q

Why were early co-operative enterprises important

A

They provided means for working people to improve their own condition paving the way for greater social equality

117
Q

Who formalised the co-operative shop activities in 1844

A

Rochdale Pioneers

118
Q

What was holding back expansion of co-operative shops

A

opposition from traditional profit driven shops, they were charged excessive rents and many wholesale suppliers refused to work with them

119
Q

What were some of the Rochdale Principles

A
  • Only best quality
  • Women can be members
  • Profits divided on amount of purchases by each member
  • some profits directed to education
  • full measurements of goods always given
120
Q

What did the Rochdale Principles reflect

A

Progressive approach that attempted to better experiences for working men and women. But different to others they were professional so ensured a stable long term business plan

121
Q

How was the rochdale pioneers democratic approach significant

A

Enforced all members being equal which enhanced their reputation as honest businessmen who showed a different style of commerce

122
Q

Why was the rochdale pioneers decision to refuse use of credit significant

A

This is what had caused collapse of many prior co-operative shops as they extended courtesy to customers when they financially couldn’t

123
Q

Basis explanation of a co-operative shop

A

People pooled their resources together to buy goods at wholesale prices, then be sold to customers at market prices with profits going back into the shop

124
Q

What emphasis improved the long term picture of the Rochdale Pioneers

A

Profits would be divided up based on how much one spent in the shop, encouraging people to spend more in the shop and increasing membership

125
Q

by 1863 how many co-operative shops were created on the rochdale model

A

251

126
Q

What was set up by the pioneers in 1863 that reached to international influence

A

Co-operative Wholesale Society

127
Q

Co-operative economics

A

Social equality would be increased as business profits are split between multiple people rather than one owner

128
Q

What helped co-operative economics to flourish in the victorian ideas

A

Self help ideas were very popular

129
Q

What property had the pioneers amassed by the 1860s

A

£300,000 worth

130
Q

What co-operative movement existed in the 1600s

A

Workers would band together to provide social and financial support to one another when need arose, normally after a death family would be supported

131
Q

When did friendly societies grow

A

in the 1660s when government reduced employee protection

132
Q

Friendly Society

A

Organisation that aimed to provide assistance and benefits for each others, insurance, saving schemes, pensions

133
Q

What was one of the earliest 19th century friendly societies

A

Royal Foresters in Yorkshire

134
Q

What benefit did the distinct identities of societies bring in the Industrial Revolution

A

Sense of individuality and social importance at a time when it was being vastly reduced for the working class

135
Q

Why was the government opposed to growing friendly societies in the late 18th century

A

They associated them with French radicalism and groups of working class forming against the higher class

136
Q

Friendly societies act

A

1793 made it so they had to register with their local JP, had to log their actions and their rules

137
Q

What was the intention of the friendly societies act

A

These groups would become more transparent so the government could monitor any radical tendencies and they hoped the act would reduce membership

138
Q

What was the unintended effect of the friendly societies act

A

Legal recognition of friendly societies gave them protection of their funds and first time workers could form legal organisations to provide mutual benefits, so membership grew rapidly

139
Q

What percentage of the population was in a friendly society by 1803

A

8%

140
Q

Who did friendly societies exclude

A
  • Poorest people as their was a subscription fee
  • Those in unstable industry like agriculture
  • Anyone who fell behind with fees was expelled immediately
141
Q

Where did friendly societies enjoy greatest presence

A

Areas with intense industrial development

142
Q

What was the main draw of friendly societies in industrial Britain

A

financial gains and stability offered through membership

143
Q

United Society

A

Showed the social benefit of joining a society as was an association of societies in that area that promised bed and food to any member

144
Q

Why did friendly societies grow after 1799

A

They were a means of practicing trade union objectives whilst unions were illegal, society funds could be pooled for strike action

145
Q

What change was made to friendly societies in 1846

A

Registration was now done centrally so government could oversee friendly societies better due to the large scale support they had membership over 1 million

146
Q

What gave friendly societies a more honest reputation

A

Legalisation of trade unions in 1824

147
Q

Second friendly societies act when and what

A

1855 protection of funds and growing government support for their activities reflecting victorian self help ethos

148
Q

What was the ratio of friendly societies to trade unions by 1870

A

4:1

149
Q

Why were friendly societies less targeted by the government comapred to trade unions

A

They posed less of a threat to the economic functioning of industrialisation as the government feared the effects strike action had on the countries profitability

150
Q

What was the basic premise behind friendly societies

A

Mutual support and co-operative movement within its membership that would better peoples financial and social welfare

A Level Britain (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions