Labor's Struggle in 19th Century Britain

• The rapid growth of factories and industries during the Industrial Revolution led to poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages, prompting workers to organize for better treatment. Trade unions faced legal prohibitions and hostility from employers and the government in the early part of the nineteenth century. The Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800 outlawed worker combinations.

Laws like the Combination Act of 1825 severely limited their activities and even criminalized collective action for improved wages or hours. Joining a union carried the risk of prosecution and even transporta-
to Australia.

• From the 1850s, more established, better-funded, and often less radical unions, known as "New Model Unions," gained prominence. Trade unions not only fought for better wages and working conditions but also influenced social reforms, including the development of welfare and social insurance programs. The Chartist movement, which aimed for political reforms like universal male suffrage, influenced the labor movement and contributed to the broader push for social change.

Trade unions played a crucial role in shaping the social and economi economic landscape of Victorian Britain, advocating for improved conditions, wages, and social reforms.