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Quiz about The Tolpuddle Martyrs
Quiz about The Tolpuddle Martyrs

The Tolpuddle Martyrs Trivia Quiz


The Tolpuddle Martyrs were early Trade Unionists. How much do you know about them and their part in early Trade Union history?

A multiple-choice quiz by Christinap. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
Christinap
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
295,265
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
352
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (7/10), Guest 81 (4/10), Guest 104 (2/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. How many Tolpuddle Martyrs were there? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The 'lodge' they founded belonged to which trade union? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What were they protesting about or trying to prevent? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. With what offence were they charged? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The martyrs were tried at The Shire Hall, Dorchester and found guilty. What was their punishment? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Who was British Prime Minister at the time of the Tolpuddle Martyrs' trial in 1834? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What was the public reaction to the trial and sentence? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Did the martyrs serve their full sentence? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Did the Tolpuddle Martyrs have the right to vote?


Question 10 of 10
10. What annual event is held to commemorate the martyrs? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 81: 4/10
Feb 22 2024 : Guest 104: 2/10
Feb 10 2024 : Hayes1953: 4/10
Jan 31 2024 : Guest 92: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. How many Tolpuddle Martyrs were there?

Answer: 6

They were George and James Loveless, James Brine, James Hammett, Thomas Stansfield and his son John. George Loveless was the leader and organiser of the group, all of whom were farm labourers. They were also, with the exception of James Brine, all staunch Methodists.
2. The 'lodge' they founded belonged to which trade union?

Answer: Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers

Entry into the union involved a subscription of one shilling (5p) and swearing an oath before a picture of a skeleton never to tell the union's secrets. The Friendly Society of Agricultural Workers was a very early forerunner of the National Union of Farm Workers.
3. What were they protesting about or trying to prevent?

Answer: A cut in wages

The labourers at Tolpuddle lived in near poverty on a wage of 7 shillings a week. They wanted an increase to 10 shillings, but instead the wages were cut to 6 shillings.

They were not alone in their discontent. In the early 1830s there was much working class discontent in Britain, especially in the south of England, due to wretched working conditions and wage cuts. There were riots in some areas, which were supressed by military force. Farm labourers were the poorest of all.
4. With what offence were they charged?

Answer: Administering unlawful oaths

Membership of a trade union was not, in itself, unlawful, although it was strongly discouraged and it was not unusual for anyone trying to form or join a Trade Union to be sacked without references, which made finding another job almost impossible.

There was an offence of "Administering an unlawful oath" on the statute books and as the organisers made members swear an oath not to reveal the secrets of the union this was used as an excuse to arrest and try them.
5. The martyrs were tried at The Shire Hall, Dorchester and found guilty. What was their punishment?

Answer: 7 years' deportation to Australia

Deportation was a very common sentence for even minor matters at that time.
No matter what the length of the sentence very few people returned to England after their sentence was served as very few were able to pay their own passage home. (The authorities did not provide a return passage). Deportation thus became a de facto life sentence for most, although without the convicts staying on and becoming colonists Australia would not be what it is today.
6. Who was British Prime Minister at the time of the Tolpuddle Martyrs' trial in 1834?

Answer: Lord Melbourne

Lord Melbourne was bitterly opposed to the Trade Union Movement, so he did nothing to reduce the sentence. The whole Whig Government of the time (and the Tories, too) were alarmed at working class discontent in the country and were determined to crush the unions and control increasing outbreaks of unrest.
7. What was the public reaction to the trial and sentence?

Answer: An outcry and protests

Many public protests were held and there was general outcry at the Martyrs' treatment. Because of this they were hastily transported to a penal colony in Australia. This however only made matters worse, and a 250,000 signature petition was collected and some 30,000 people marched down Whitehall in support of the Martyrs.
8. Did the martyrs serve their full sentence?

Answer: No

Because of public reaction the sentences were commuted and after some delay the six were given free passage home from Australia.

When home and free James Hammett was the only one who returned to Tolpuddle, where he worked as a builder's labourer. George Loveless and Thomas Standfield and their families had farms 5 miles from each other in Essex, James Brine married Elizabeth Standfield, Thomas's daughter. They had 11 children. Eventually the families emigrated to Canada where George Loveless and Thomas Standfield built a Methodist Church in Siloam where George Loveless was a lay preacher, James Loveless became sexton of North Street Methodist Church in London Township, Ontario, and John Standfield became Mayor of East London where he owned a hotel, ran a shop and founded a choir.

The graves of Thomas Standfield and his wife and George Loveless and his wife are next to each other in Siloam cemetery.
9. Did the Tolpuddle Martyrs have the right to vote?

Answer: No

At that time only about one in seven adult males, and no women, had the right to vote. The right to vote was based on property, and despite the Reform Act of 1832 which enfranchised more people than ever before and got rid of the most obviously "rotten boroughs", the right to vote was still severely restricted.
10. What annual event is held to commemorate the martyrs?

Answer: Weekend Union Rally

The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Rally is held on the third weekend in July every year. International speakers join with workers representatives, musicians and artists to make it a vibrant and memorable occasion.

There is a permanent Martyrs' Memorial in the village in the form of a seat and shelter erected on the village green where they used to meet.
Source: Author Christinap

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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