Vocabulary
Wealth; Trade unions; unemployment;
strike.
To achieve; to develop.
Even; self-sufficient.
THE LABOUR MOVEMENT
Socially,
the political revolutions and the Industrial Revolution had two main
consequences:
-
the
creation of a new class society, in
which social differences were based on job, power and wealth.
-
the
organization of workers and the appearance
of new ideologies, opposed to the
capitalism.
The first actions took place in the UK in the
early 19th century. Workers were losing their jobs, and they protested
violently against their employers destroying machines, which they saw
responsible for their low salaries and unemployment. This was called Luddism.
Then they created Trade Unions, associations of workers formed to protect
their rights and interests. They wanted to achieve political rights
(strike, vote, etc.) and to improve their working conditions (hours of
work, salary, etc.). In the beginning, Trade Unions were illegal. The British
Parliament legalized Trade Unions in 1825.
New ideologies were also developed with the
intention of ending capitalism:
oSocialism.
It was developed by Marx and Engels. Its main objective was to eliminate
private property, because they thought it was the cause of the social
division between the bourgeoisie and the working class. To make this possible, the
working class should make a revolution (led by socialist parties) and take
power, establishing the collective property and a society with no
classes.
oAnarchism.
It was developed by Bakunin. Its main objective was that people could be
completely free, eliminating private property, religion and even states. To
make this possible, all the oppressed social groups (not only workers)
should make a spontaneous revolution which would change State for small
self-sufficient communities.
1.
Work in pairs
Discuss with your partner the differences and similarities between
socialism and anarchism. Create a chart showing the results.
2. True/False – rewrite the false sentences
a) One of the social consequences of
the Industrial revolution was the rise of new ideologies against capitalism.
b) The first actions happened in the
beginning of the 19th century in the UK.
c) Luddism was a violent movement to
destroy machines because they were very dangerous for the workers’ health.
d) Trade Unions were created to protect
the owners against the workers’ interests and rights.
e) Trade Unions just wanted to improve
the working conditions.
f) Trade Unions were illegal from 1825.
