Why did the people in Merthyr Tydfil take part in the riots?

Answer 1

After the Industrial Revolution, there was a massive decline in the amount of young men working in agriculture. They instead were attracted by the higher wages available in industries such as iron and coal. In 1829, the depression strongly affected Merthyr Tydfil. Workers' rights did not exist at that time; and sudden dismissal, wage reductions and short-term working had always been imposed by the iron and coal masters to maximise their own profits. A sudden downturn in the market saw the ironmasters quickly dismiss surplus workers and cut the wages of those in work. The working classes were then immediately plunged into hardship, widening the gap in class.

The Merthyr Rising of 1831 was precipitated by a combination of the ruthless collection of debts, frequent wage reductions, and the imposition of "truck shops". Some workers were paid in specially minted coins or credit notes, known as "truck", which they could exchange only at shops owned by their employers. Many of the workers fiercely objected to both the price and quality of the goods sold in these shops.

Throughout May 1831, the coal miners and others who worked for William Crawshay took to the streets of Merthyr Tydfil, calling for reform, and protesting against the lowering of their wages and general unemployment in the area.

Between 7,000 and 10,000 workers marched, and for four days magistrates and ironmasters were under siege in the "Castle Hotel" in the town, with the protesters effectively controlling the whole of Merthyr. Soldiers were called in from the Brecon Barracks, these clashed with the rioters, and many on both sides were seriously injured or killed. Despite the hope that they could negotiate with the owners, the skilled workers lost control of the movement. Several of the supposed leaders of the riots were arrested. One of them, popularly known as Dic Penderyn, was hanged for stabbing a soldier in the leg, leading to him becoming known as the first local working-class martyr. It was claimed in 1876 that it was not Lewis who stabbed Private Black, but another man, Ianto Parker, who fled to America following the incident in order to avoid prosecution and the death penalty. These claims have never been fully verified, although Lewis' innocence is widely accepted throughout Merthyr Tydfil.