What country was the first to legalize trade unions in 1824?

Trade unions were legalized in Great Britain in 1824, where growing numbers of factory workers joined labor organizations in their efforts to achieve better wages and working conditions. After 1824, workplace militancy greatly manifested itself in all regions of the United Kingdom with trade/skilled workers, coal and steel workers, the unemployed and many others. These groups held general strikes and protests; but their efforts were crushed.

Because of political activities in the later 1830s and 1840s, trade unionism in the United Kingdom was mostly overshadowed. The trade unions realized that they had to work harder, be conscientious and less radical to obtain any of their goals.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

70 Comments

Scott Sumone

I'm a union man...I have been a steelworker and a teamster...big guys like stepping on little guys. Someone needs to look out for the little guy....

Joe Girvan

Thought Scotland was a part of Great Britain so it's a trick question

Jacqueline Tattam

The last paragraph is pure opinion and a simplistic one at - ‘the trade Unions realised they had to work harder, be more conscientious’. This insinuates that the workers were simply lazy and I will guarantee no Union ever stated that. There is no mention of Conservative governments’ (especially Ms Thatcher’s)restrictive legislations which deliberately sought to punish Unions and diminish workers’ rights in particular the right to strike!

Diana Newman

Great Britain consist of England, Scotland and the Principality of Wales. Scotland has been part of Great Britain since 1707.

Wendy Petty

There are a few points that seem off. Great Britain isn't a country, it is a group of countries. The united Kingdom is for some reason classified as a country, go figure. So using Great Britain as a possible was a bit of a red herring, anyone knowing Great Britain to be a group of countries and knowing how finicky these answers are would not choose GB. It therefore seems the answer is not correct.

Val Wilkinson

With a brief explanation it would have also been good to have seen a reference to the Tolpuddle Martyrs who were imprisoned then transported to Australia for having met to discuss their working conditions, and sworn an oath of secrecy. http://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/welcome

Jerry Edwards

Karin Johansson, Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain. The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Check out the British Lions Rugby Union's full name, for an example.

Alistair Innes

Great Britain is not a country.

Chrissie

Albeck1994, in 1824 existing Scots Law differed from English Law in many respects; however no new Scottish laws could be enacted at that time.

Chrissie

Steve Edwards, what you say about Scots Law is true, but Scotland was not allowed to legislate between 1707 and 1999.

Chrissie

Jacqueline Tattam, I assumed it to mean that in the history of the Trade Union movement, the Unions themselves had to work harder at gaining/keeping members and at convincing employers and politicians. As a retired active TU member and rep, I greatly regret the diminishing TU membership in the UK these days, and the further erosion of workers' rights.

Chrissie

Wendy Petty, totally agree, and have reported the answer option on that basis.

Chrissie

Diana Newman, Scotland has always been part of Great Britain, which is simply a geographical feature - the island which is the largest of the British Isles. I say always - but indeed, at one time it was part of the American continent. The Scottish-English border is where the breakaway tectonic plates collided.

Chrissie

Rob Farr, United Kingdom and Great Britain do not mean the same thing, and are not the same thing. Geographically, the UK includes GB and Northern Ireland.

Chrissie

Joe Girvan, neither of them was a legislating country in 1824: Scotland was ruled from Westminster, and Great Britain is a geographical name for an island, as opposed to the United Kingdom* (which included Scotland). * At time of writing, 4 May 2021!

Player

Tim Holm, the EU act like they are a federation.

Player

Julie Fadgen, United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. Great Britain is England, Scotland & Wales.

Player

Germany didn't exist as a country until 1871 so easy to remove thst option. Scotland is part of Great Britain so that option could be removed. Didn't think it could be Italy either.

Monty Mathias

Scott Sumone, "Part of the Union", a great song by Strawbs. It is debated whether it is pro-union or a satire of same, but, if one listens to the lyrics it seems clear on which side that it falls.