Rebecca Riots as a Justifiable Expression of Rural Discontent

Rebecca Riots as a Justifiable Expression of Rural Discontent The Rebecca Riots were a justifiable expression of rural discontent made by the farmers. This included the smashing of tollgates and tollhouses across West Wales by angered farmers between 1839 - 1843. I believe that the riots were a justifiable expression of rural discontent to a large extent due to the status of the farmers and the huge difference between rich and poor at the time. The most important reason that contributed to the Rebecca Riots was the living conditions and working conditions of the farmers. The living conditions are described as terrible. I entered several farm labourers cottagesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..and found them mud†¦show more content†¦We can see in this source the amount of poverty the farmers were forced into, which supports the farmers decision to riot. This source shows that the farmer only eats what he can afford to eat. He has to sell most of the food he grows. The working conditions of the farmers were primitive and their methods were physically demanding. A letter written by Rev J Evans states, The ploughs of the country areà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦awkward. The furrow is seldom more than half turned, by which the growth of weed is encouragedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The land is thus reduced in the last stage of poverty Marl, so successfully used by the English farmer, is sparingly adopted by the Welsh. In cutting wheat they still use the common reaping hook. This source illustrates the Welsh farmers struggle in farming with only very simple, backwards methods used. There is a comparison made to the English farming methods to the Welsh farmers methods which gives us a comparison to the extent of technology used by other farmers compared to the Welsh. This source was written by Rev J Evans who is an educated man touring South Wales in 1804. The passage was written before the Rebecca Riots so may not portray the right image of what the farming conditions were like then. On the other hand, the source will not be biased as there is no point to be proven with it, the article is not politically cha rged.Show MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesdifferent geographical areas and across ethnic communities and social strata. They consider not only the nature, volume, and direction of migrant movements motivated primarily by opportunities for economic advancement—including the massive movement of rural agriculturalists to rapidly growing urban areas—but also the often-neglected displacements of populations that resulted from the wars, revolutions, and natural and man-made disasters of the twentieth century. Howard Spodek’s essay charts the development