Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 5 Improving working and living conditions: trades union militancy in Ireland, 1907–14 — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 5 Improving working and living conditions: trades union militancy in Ireland, 1907–14 explained
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 5 Improving working and living conditions: trades union militancy in Ireland, 1907–14 covers 3 specification points, including Working and living conditions for unskilled… and Events and significance of the Dublin general…. Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
Working and living conditions for unskilled urban workers; the significance of the founding of the National Union of Dock Labourers 1907, and the ITGWU 1909; the roles of Jim Larkin, James Connolly and William Martin Murphy.
Unskilled urban workers in early 20th-century Ireland endured poor living and working conditions: low wages, long hours, casual employment, and overcrowded slums. The specification highlights the founding of the National Union of Dock Labourers 1907; historically founded in 1889, 1907 marks Jim Larkin's founding of its Belfast branch, organising dockers and winning concessions. The Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU), founded in 1909 by Larkin, aimed to unionise all unskilled workers and was central to the 1913 Dublin Lockout. Larkin led militant strikes; James Connolly, a socialist theorist, became a key ITGWU organiser and later led the Irish Citizen Army; William Martin Murphy, a prominent employer, opposed unions and led the lockout. Their roles highlight the conflict between labour and capital.
Events and significance of the Dublin general strike 1913–14; the lock-out and implications for workers and employers.
The Dublin general strike of 1913–14 began when tram workers, led by James Larkin and the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU), struck for better pay and union recognition. Employers, organised by William Martin Murphy, responded with a lock-out, refusing to employ union members. The dispute escalated as sympathetic strikes spread, but the ITGWU was defeated by early 1914. For workers, the lock-out meant lost wages, hunger, and emigration; for employers, it demonstrated the power of collective action to crush unions. The strike's significance lies in its exposure of poor working conditions and the limits of union solidarity in Ireland, shaping future labour and nationalist politics.
The role of British trade unions in the attempts to unionise workers in Ireland and in the Dublin general strike.
British trade unions, particularly the National Union of Railwaymen and the Trades Union Congress, supported Irish unionisation efforts by providing financial aid, organising solidarity actions, and sending speakers. During the Dublin general strike (1913–14), British unions sent food ships and funds to sustain locked-out workers, but their support was limited by their own industrial disputes and political priorities. The British TUC passed resolutions in support but did not call a sympathetic general strike. This assistance helped sustain the ITGWU temporarily but ultimately could not prevent defeat. The episode revealed both the potential and the limits of international union solidarity, influencing future Irish labour strategies.
Your focus
- Describe the working and living conditions of unskilled urban workers in early 20th-century Ireland.
- Explain the significance of the founding of the NUDL 1907 (Belfast branch) and the ITGWU 1909.
- Analyse the roles of Jim Larkin, James Connolly and William Martin Murphy in the labour movement.
Show all 9 objectives
- Students can describe the key events of the Dublin general strike and lock-out of 1913–14.
- Students can analyse the implications of the dispute for both workers and employers.
- Students can evaluate the historical significance of the strike within the context of Irish labour history.
- Students can describe the forms of support provided by British trade unions to Irish workers.
- Students can analyse the extent and limitations of British union involvement in the Dublin lock-out.
- Students can evaluate the significance of British support for the outcome of the dispute and for future Irish labour organisation.
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 5 Improving working and living conditions: trades union militancy in Ireland, 1907–14 exam tips
Marking Points
- Describe working conditions: low pay, irregular work, long hours, and lack of safety for unskilled urban workers.
- Describe living conditions: overcrowded tenements, poor sanitation, and high disease rates in Irish cities, especially Dublin.
- Explain the significance of the founding of the National Union of Dock Labourers 1907 (referring to Larkin establishing the Belfast branch): it was crucial for organising unskilled workers and using strikes to improve pay and conditions.
- Explain the significance of the ITGWU (1909): it expanded unskilled unionism, led by Larkin, and played a key role in the 1913 Lockout.
- Analyse Jim Larkin's role: his leadership, oratory, and militant tactics in strikes and the ITGWU.
- Analyse James Connolly's role: his socialist ideology, his work as an ITGWU organiser (returning to Ireland in 1910), and his leadership of the Irish Citizen Army.
- Analyse William Martin Murphy's role: as an employer, he organised opposition to unions, leading to the 1913 Lockout.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the sequence of events: tram strike, sympathetic strikes, lock-out, and eventual return to work.
- Explains the roles of key figures such as James Larkin, James Connolly, and William Martin Murphy.
- Analyses the economic and social impact on workers, including poverty, emigration, and the failure to secure union recognition.
- Evaluates the implications for employers, such as the short-term defeat of the ITGWU but long-term changes in labour organisation.
- Assesses the significance of the strike in the broader context of Irish labour and nationalist history.
- Identifies specific British unions involved, such as the National Union of Railwaymen and the Trades Union Congress.
- Explains the forms of support: financial donations, food shipments, and public meetings.
- Analyses the limitations of British union support, including lack of a sympathetic strike and competing domestic issues.
- Evaluates the impact of British aid on the duration and outcome of the Dublin strike.
- Assesses how British involvement shaped Irish union attitudes towards reliance on external support.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use specific examples of strikes, such as the 1913 Dublin Lockout, to illustrate the roles of key figures.
- 💡Compare the approaches of Larkin and Connolly to show their different emphases (militant action vs. socialist theory).
- 💡Link the union movement to broader themes of social and political change in Ireland.
- 💡Use specific dates and names to show precise knowledge, e.g., the strike began in August 1913 and ended in early 1914.
- 💡Link the events to the wider theme of improving working and living conditions, showing how the strike both highlighted and failed to resolve poor conditions.
- 💡When discussing significance, consider short-term and long-term impacts on workers, employers, and the labour movement.
- 💡Name key British unions and their contributions to show detailed knowledge.
- 💡Balance the analysis by discussing both the help given and its limitations.
- 💡Connect British involvement to the wider theme of trade union militancy in Ireland, showing how external support influenced local outcomes.
Common Mistakes
- Stating the NUDL was founded nationally in 1907: while the specification references 1907, the union was founded in 1889, and 1907 marks Larkin's founding of the Belfast branch. Correction: clarify that 1907 refers to the Belfast branch's establishment.
- Claiming James Connolly co-founded the ITGWU in 1909: Connolly was in America at the time and returned in 1910 to become an organiser. Correction: attribute the founding solely to Larkin and describe Connolly's subsequent leadership role.
- Underestimating the role of William Martin Murphy: he was a key antagonist, not just a background figure. Correction: explain his active organisation of employers against unions.
- Confusing the Dublin lock-out with a general strike across all industries; correction: it was primarily a lock-out of ITGWU members by employers, not a universal strike.
- Assuming the strike achieved immediate improvements for workers; correction: it ended in defeat for the union, with many workers signing pledges not to join the ITGWU.
- Overstating the role of British unions; correction: while British unions provided some financial support, the dispute was fundamentally Irish in leadership and outcome.
- Assuming British unions called a general strike in sympathy; correction: they provided aid but did not strike en masse.
- Overestimating the amount of financial support; correction: while significant, it was insufficient to win the dispute.
- Ignoring the role of the TUC; correction: the TUC coordinated some support and debated the issue, though action was limited.