Passage 1
Will Thorne is one of those who went in search of seasonal work, loading bricks and doing odd jobs. He describes how job-seekers walked to London in search of work: ‘I had always wanted to go to London, and my desire … was stimulated by letters from an old workmate … who was now working at the Old Kent Road Gas Works … I finally decided to go … in November, 1881. With two friends I started out to walk the journey, filled with the hope that we would be able to obtain employment, when we get there, with the kind assistance of my friend … we had little money when we started, not enough to pay for our food and lodgings each night until we arrived in London. Some days we walked as much as twenty miles, and other days less. Our money was gone at the end of the third day … For two nights we slept out – once under a haystack, and once in an old farm shed … On arrival in London, we tried to find … my friend … but … were unsuccessful. Our money was gone, so there was nothing for us to do but to walk around until late at night, and then try to find some place to sleep. We found an old building and slept in it that night. The next day, Sunday, late in the afternoon, we got to the Old Kent Gas Works, and applied for work. To my great surprise, the man we had been looking for was working at the time. He spoke to the foreman and I was given a job.’ Quoted in Raphael Samuel, ‘Comers and Goers’, in H.J. Dyos and Michael Wolff, eds, The Victorian City: Images and Realities, 1973.
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: What motivated Will Thorne to journey to London in search of work?
Answer: Thorne was inspired to go to London by letters from an old workmate who was working at the Old Kent Road Gas Works, which sparked his desire to seek employment opportunities there.
Question 2: How did Thorne and his friends undertake their journey to London?
Answer: Thorne and his friends started their journey to London in November 1881, walking the entire way. They had little money and relied on hope and determination to find work upon reaching their destination.
Question 3: What challenges did Thorne and his companions face during their journey?
Answer: They encountered financial difficulties, exhausting days of walking, and eventually ran out of money by the end of the third day. They resorted to sleeping outdoors under a haystack and in an old farm shed due to lack of funds for lodging.
Question 4: Describe the circumstances upon Thorne’s arrival in London.
Answer: Upon arriving in London, Thorne and his friends were unable to find their friend who worked at the gas works. With no money left, they wandered the streets until late at night, finally finding shelter in an old building where they spent the night.
Question 5: How did Thorne eventually secure employment in London?
Answer: Thorne and his companions eventually made their way to the Old Kent Gas Works, where they found their friend working. With his friend’s assistance, Thorne was able to speak to the foreman and secure a job.
Passage 2
A magistrate reported in 1790 about an incident when he was called in to protect a manufacturer’s property from being attacked by workers: ‘From the depredations of a lawless Banditti of colliers and their wives, for the wives had lost their work to spinning engines … they advanced at first with much insolence, avowing their intention of cutting to pieces the machine lately introduced in the woollen manufacture; which they suppose, if generally adopted, will lessen the demand for manual labour. The women became clamorous. The men were more open to conviction and after some expostulations were induced to desist from their purpose and return peaceably home.’
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: Who were the perpetrators of the reported incident in 1790, and what was their motivation?
Answer: The perpetrators were described as a lawless band of colliers and their wives. Their motivation stemmed from losing their jobs to spinning engines, which they believed would reduce the demand for manual labor.
Question 2: What was the specific target of the attackers, and why did they intend to attack it?
Answer: The attackers intended to attack a machine recently introduced in the woollen manufacture. They believed that the widespread adoption of such machines would diminish the need for manual labor, prompting them to take action against it.
Question 3: How did the situation escalate initially, and what was the demeanor of the attackers?
Answer: The situation escalated as the attackers advanced with insolence, openly declaring their intention to destroy the machine. The women became clamorous, adding to the tension of the situation.
Question 4: What tactics were employed to defuse the situation, and were they successful?
Answer: The magistrate attempted to reason with the attackers, engaging in some form of expostulation. While the women remained clamorous, the men were more open to persuasion, ultimately agreeing to desist from their purpose and return home peacefully.
Question 5: What broader implications can be drawn from this incident regarding the introduction of machinery in manufacturing?
Answer: This incident highlights the social tensions and resistance that arose with the introduction of machinery in manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. It underscores the fears and insecurities felt by workers who perceived machines as a threat to their livelihoods, leading to confrontations and conflicts with authorities and employers.
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