Revolution and uprising in France made British authorities feel vulnerable to the chances of revolt, therefore, authorities treated anyone calling for political change as a criminal. The story of the Tolpuddle martyrs (a person who suffers for their beliefs, often people admire them) was a prime example of how British authorities dealt with threats to their power.

In 1834, in Toldpuddle village in Dorset, a farm labourer George Loveless was arrested after leaving his work. Himself and five others were accused of 'administering an illegal oath'. Supposedly, they broke an old law that intended to stop sailors of the Navy organising a mutiny. However, the motive behind the arrest of these men related to their political beliefs. These men formed a 'friendly society', a precursor to a trade union (an organisation that strives to protect the rights of the worker) to protest about their low wages.

Loveless and his friends were sentenced to seven years' transportation to the Australian colony. After the sentence passed, mass protests were held in support of Loveless and his friends. A demonstration of 100,000 people occurred in London and a petition of 200,000 signatures was handed to parliament. The Home Secretary (minister responsible for law and order) refused to accept the actions of the public and the men were sent to Australia.

Four years into the Tolpuddle martyrs sentence and the government pardoned their punishment. The men returned home as heroes.

Continuation & Change