Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 5…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 5 Trades union militancy, 1915–27: Union revival after the First World War: the Triple Alliance; the impact of Black Friday, 1921; the importance of the Council of Action and the formation of the AEU and TGWU.
After WWI, unions revived amid economic hardship.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
After WWI, unions revived amid economic hardship. The Triple Alliance of miners, railwaymen, and transport workers threatened strike action to support nationalisation and higher wages. Black Friday, 1921, saw the alliance collapse when transport and railway leaders withdrew support on the day of a miners' lockout (imposed by owners after decontrol), weakening union solidarity. The Council of Action, formed in 1920, was a radical body that opposed British intervention in the Soviet-Polish War, demonstrating union political power. The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) and Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) were formed in 1920 and 1922 respectively, consolidating union strength in key industries. These developments show both the potential and limitations of union revival.
What earns the marks
- The formation and purpose of the Triple Alliance: an agreement between miners, railwaymen, and transport workers to support each other in industrial disputes.
- The events of Black Friday, 1921: the withdrawal of railway and transport support from the miners during their lockout, leading to the miners' defeat.
- The impact of Black Friday on union solidarity: it damaged trust and demonstrated the difficulties of maintaining alliances.
- The importance of the Council of Action: its role in opposing British intervention in the Soviet-Polish War and its demonstration of union political influence.
- The formation of the AEU in 1920 and TGWU in 1922: their creation through amalgamation and significance for engineering and transport workers.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the trade union Triple Alliance with the earlier military Triple Entente.
Put it right: Ensure you refer to the post-war trade union alliance.
Misunderstanding Black Friday: it was not a strike itself but the day the alliance failed to support the miners during a lockout imposed by coal owners.
Overlooking the Council of Action.
Put it right: It was a significant example of union political action, not just industrial action.
Exam tips
- When discussing the Triple Alliance, explain its purpose and why it failed to prevent Black Friday.
- Link the Council of Action to the broader theme of union political influence, not just industrial disputes.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 5 Trades union militancy, 1915–27: Union revival after the First World War: the Triple Alliance; the impact of Black Friday, 1921; the importance of the Council of Action and the formation of the AEU and TGWU. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which three unions made up the Triple Alliance in the period after the First World War?
Listen
After WWI, unions revived amid economic hardship. The Triple Alliance of miners, railwaymen, and transport workers threatened strike action to support nationalisation and higher wages. Black Friday, 1921, saw the alliance collapse when transport and railway leaders withdrew support on the day of a miners' lockout (imposed by owners after decontrol), weakening union solidarity. The Council of Action, formed in 1920, was a radical body that opposed British intervention in the Soviet-Polish War, demonstrating union political power. The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) and Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) were formed in 1920 and 1922 respectively, consolidating union strength in key industries. These developments show both the potential and limitations of union revival. A strong answer earns marks for these points. The formation and purpose of the Triple Alliance: an agreement between miners, railwaymen, and transport workers to support each other in industrial disputes. The events of Black Friday, 1921: the withdrawal of railway and transport support from the miners during their lockout, leading to the miners' defeat. The impact of Black Friday on union solidarity: it damaged trust and demonstrated the difficulties of maintaining alliances. The importance of the Council of Action: its role in opposing British intervention in the Soviet-Polish War and its demonstration of union political influence. Exam tip: When discussing the Triple Alliance, explain its purpose and why it failed to prevent Black Friday.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Council of Action formed to oppose intervention in Soviet-Polish War
- 2. Transport and General Workers' Union formed through amalgamation
- 3. Black Friday saw alliance collapse during miners' lockout
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Triple Alliance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Black Friday, 1921
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Council of Action
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
AEU and TGWU
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Triple Alliance
- An agreement between miners, railwaymen, and transport workers to support each other in industrial disputes.
- Black Friday, 1921
- The day railway and transport leaders withdrew support from the miners during their lockout, leading to the miners' defeat.
- Council of Action
- A radical body formed in 1920 that opposed British intervention in the Soviet-Polish War, demonstrating union political power.
- AEU and TGWU
- Unions formed in 1920 and 1922 respectively through amalgamation, consolidating union strength in engineering and transport.
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