Agrarian disorder during the Industrial Revolution
Rebecca Riots
Between 1839-1843, groups of farmers disguised themselves as women and attacked Gates on turnpike roads. Farmers and other road users had to pay tolls to use the roads. in west Wales. They were protesting about the high tolls, but also increasing rents, To pay a sum of money to support a religious cause or as tax to a government; usually one tenth of an individual's earnings. and poverty. They had suffered some poor harvests, and then the price of livestock fell. Many began to struggle to pay rents, tithes, rates and the tolls.
They rode horses and were armed with sticks and axes. They attacked numerous tollgates in west Wales. The name 'Rebecca' was most likely a Biblical reference.
On 13 May 1839, Rebecca rioters attacked a tollgate at Efailwen. The tollhouse was burned down on 6 June and the tollgate destroyed. One toll keeper, Sarah Williams, was killed in an attack on 7 September 1843 in Hendy.
The attacks continued until 1843, but decreased after the government sent more troops to the area. Protesters began to hold peaceful meetings instead of violent attacks.
Swing Riots
- In 1830 and 1831, agricultural labourers attacked houses and barns belonging to rich farmers and landowners in south-east England. They burned hayricks and smashed farm machinery.
- The attacks spread across the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England.
- Threatening letters were sent to landowners, signed by 'Captain Swing'.
- They were protesting about poverty and the introduction of new machinery.
- The Government arrested 2,000 people. 19 were hanged, 644 were jailed and 481 were transported to Australia.