for centuries until 18th century and Indus Revo: local trade associations of labourers and workmen => skilled tradesmen combined together to protect their interest BUT considered as dangerous (fear of revolution, cf France: Rubinstein)

After 1825 => trade depression => strikes vs drop in the wages BUT employers broke them by bringing workers from nearby areas (blacklegs = briseurs de grève) => the idea of a combination of local trade unions rose BUT failed bc of cash shortages and ø coordination of activities

Combination Act of 1800 => illegal for workers to combine to gain new rights.

Amending Act (1825) => trade unions = legal BUT illegal to obstruct or intimidate => almost impossible to hold a strike without breaking the law.

Tried to achieve this goal of combination => most remarkable industrialist and reformer of the 19th century (modest background, self-made industrialist)

He proved that it was possible to continue to both make reasonable profit AND improve the conditions of living of the poor

Ricardo’s theory => value was only due to work => capitalist should not capture the profit => tried to set up a Co-operative movement in which the workers owned the means of production

People’s character depended on how good their living standards were => better coditions = peaceful society (tried this in his mills) (larger factories with more aeration, less working hours, local school, parks).

Unpopular with employers ( refused to take on workers belonging to Unions)/very popular with unionists

Every existing trade union was invited to join it => wished to create a collaboration btw traders, manufacturers and the gov

Most important unions (builders) refused to join (afraid of losing their separate identities)

Problems of communication, disagreements between branches.

Employers were hostile => forced their employees to sign ‘the swearing document’ (promise not to join the GNCTU)

Whigs VS trade unionists => The Tolpuddle Martyrs from the Friendly Union of Agricultural workers were arrested and put into jail => fear of the workers.

The Labour party = amalgamation of 3 socialist groups => all agreed on the necessity of representing the working class in the parliament.
=> Poverty had been worsened by the great depression.
=> American Economist Henry George’s Progress and Poverty (1881) = popular plea to improve working class conditions (by taxing landowners)
=> Gladstone disappointed the working class since he did not do social reforms (liberals lose pop)

Fabian society led by Sydney & Beatrice Webb, George B Shaw => Middle-class, pro-cooperative organisation of the economy
=> BUT non-violent (progress was inevitable)
=> YET, came to the idea of a Labour party BC of Conservatives and Liberals hostility to their cause.

Independent Labour Party created by James K. Hardie (Scottish miner)
=> Resented the Liberals bc did not pay attention to the working class
=> The final aim = collective ownership of the means of production (at first, more moderate, only abt improving conditions)

Social Democratic Federation (SDF): workers’ movement led by General Labour Unionists (Mann, Burns) & H.M. Hyndman. => violent revolution and the destruction of capitalism. => 1887: demonstration in Trafalgar Square = Bloody Sunday.

Creation helped by growth of trade unions (after 1890s issues, they realized how vital political representation was) => 1900: The TUC, the 3 socialists groups, and other unions met at the Memorial Hall in London => foundation of the Labour Representation Committee to organize election campaigns => 1st secretary was James R MacDonald (future 1st Labour PM). The Labour party = name of the group of MPs from this committee at the assembly.

Not popular at 1st BUT electoral pact with the liberals in 1903 => way to prevent to give seats to the conservativ (helped them to get ~40 MPs!) => some successes: the Trade Disputes Act (1906) BUT action = little BC depended too much on the Liberals