Who Enabled Factory Reform To Take Place??

Question 1

What were Short Term Committees and what did they do?

Answer 1

• formed by textile workers in Huddersfield and Leeds
• spinners and weavers made up the membership
• held public meetings and attempted to persuade people to sign petitions in support of Hobhouse’s bill
• sent information of their campaign to trade unions, sick-benefit clubs and friendly societies

Question 2

By 1833, how many short term committees were there?

Answer 2

26

Question 3

Who was Frances Trollope and what did she do and publish?

Answer 3

• First woman to issue her novel in parts, costing 1 shilling a month
• ‘Micheal Armstrong: A Factory Boy’ 1840
• First industrial novel to be published in Britain
• Before writing the novel she carried out a fact-finding mission to Manchester

Question 4

What is the main message of ‘Micheal Armstrong: A factory boy’?

Answer 4

• Individual philanthropy is an inadequate solution to the problems of industrialisation.

Question 5

What have critics of ‘Micheal Armstrong: A Factory Boy’ said?

Answer 5

• Frances Trollope was attacked for producing a book which could be purchased in parts and therefore available to the working class.

Question 6

How did Manchester’s Factory Children help reform to take place?

Answer 6

• During the 10 hour movement, a group of children joined together to support factory legislation.
• Their statements included “We do not think it right that we should know nothing but work and suffering from Monday morning to Saturday night, to make others rich. Do, good gentlemen, inquire carefully into our concern.”