History - Crime and Punishment - 18th and 19th century - Tolpuddle Martyrs

18th - 19th Century:

Tolpuddle Martyrs:

Background

• French Revolution in 1789 overthrew the French monarchy and people feared the same thing happening in England
• Landowners and politicians viewed every protest as a potential riot or uprising
• Authorities looked out for any conspiracy or suspicious groups
• Particularly scared of Grand National Consolidated Trades Union which aimed to bring workers together and fight for better conditions
• Employers thought the unions threatened their business by demanding better pay and conditions
• These attitude are seen through the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs

Tolpuddle Martyrs

• 1. The labourers had a tough life so they asked their emplyers to increase their wages after being cut several times but they refused and cut them further.
• 2. In 1833 they set up a union, the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.…