Title:
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The role of Methodism in the origin and development of the Revolt of the Field in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk 1872-96
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This study describes the way in which the various Methodist
groups contributed to the English agricultural labourers coming to
trade unionism in the early 1870s. It is concerned both with the
genesis and the subsequent growth of this movement which extended
from 1872 until 1896, and is commonly denoted "The Revolt of the
Field". This is a local study being concerned with the three
East Anglian counties of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and it
examines the fortunes of two major agricultural unions both of which
operated in each of those counties.
Attempt has been made to utilise as much primary source
material as possible both for Methodism and Agricultural Unionism.
Much use has been made of letters, questionnaires and unstructured
interviews.
It has been the writer's endeavour to show how and why the
fortunes of the rural labourer in our chosen area became entwined
with Methodism, and how this in turn helped to give birth to agricultural
unionism. The study is in two parts. In the first of these,
attention is focussed on some of the specific ways in which Methodism
contributed to the origin of agricultural unionism by such means as
providing a rudimentary education, opportunities for public speaking,
leadership and organisation, or by the loan of chapel premises for
meetings. In the second part, attempt has been made to illustrate the
continuing impress of Methodism on the subsequent progress of the
movement. Throughout, specifically Methodist phenomena have been a
particular focus of attention. Such aspects as for example, Methodist
conversion experience, Methodist organisation, and Methodist views with
regard to the Millennium have been treated in some detail. Attention
has also been given to the contemporary Methodist attitudes both to
the unions themselves as well as to related matters of union policy
such as Temperance or the loan of buildings.
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