Politics, voting reform and social action
Front cover of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano
This was a period of great political change which saw campaigns for both the The act of ending something, for example the ending of the trade in enslaved Africans. of the slave trade and, later, the abolition of slavery itself. Movements for voting reform also began during this period as did the rise of working class organisations such as the Organised associations that protect the interests of workers when negotiating hours, wages, conditions, etc. May also be known as labour unions. and the Labour Party. Social action to tackle poverty, combat disease and improve housing also happened during this time. Many migrants were actively involved in politics, in many different ways. These are some of the examples we know about:
- Autobiographies by people who had previously been enslaved - Mary Prince, Ottobah Cugonao and Olaudah Equiano - helped turn many people against slavery and the trade in enslaved people. Prince who suffered terrible treatment at the hands of her owners published her autobiography, The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave in 1831 and was the first black woman to do so. Equiano and Cugoano also played leading roles in the campaign for the abolition of enslavement with their organisation âSons of Africaâ. The Abolition movement has influenced many campaigns for justice since.
- According to newspaper reports, several hundred black people celebrated James Somersetâs court victory in 1771, when he was set free from slavery by order of Lord Justice Mansfield. A significant number of black people then organised against a movement to deport black people from Britain in 1787.
- William Davidson and Robert Wedderburn were both the children of black enslaved mothers and white fathers who became political activists against slavery and for the rights of working people. Davidson was hanged and beheaded for his part in the Cato Street Conspiracy - a plot to assassinate leaders of the government.
- William Cuffay (from St Kitts in the Caribbean) and Feargus OâConnor (from Ireland) were leaders of the Chartist movement for political reform. In 1948 Cuffay was convicted of preparing to set fire to certain buildings as a signal for an uprising and was transported to Tasmania in 1848. Many of the Chartistsâ demands are now an accepted part of our Parliamentary system, such as secret ballots in elections, votes for all and payment to Members of Parliament (MPs) so that not only the rich could stand for election.
- Dr Thomas Barnardo, an Irish A person who arrives from another country., set up the Barnardoâs ±«Óătvs for destitute children in 1866. This is now the childrenâs charity Barnardoâs.
- The East End of London was a place of frequent political action. In 1889, 10,000 Jewish tailors living there went on strike for better pay and conditions. Many A person living outside their own homeland as a result of war, famine or persecution. who had been active in the politics of their home countries continue to be politically aware and vocal when they came to Britain.
- Dadabhai Naoroji (Liberal) and Sir Manerchee Bhownaggree (Conservative) were both Indians elected as MPs by mainly white voters in the 1890s.
More guides on this topic
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 overview - OCR A
- Medieval 1000-1500 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Immigration in the Industrial era, 1750-1900 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Industrial era, 1750-1900 - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Industrial era 1750-1900 - OCR A
- Immigration in the Modern era 1900 - present overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Modern era, 1900 - present - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 - exam preparation - OCR A