Before the Arrest

Enclosed in Poverty

Wages of Despair

Captain Swing

Formation of Unions

The Man Who Framed
the Martyrs

Low wages, appalling conditions and unemployment, bad winters and poor harvests in 1829 and 1830 fuelled a great explosion of anger, resulting in riots led by the mythical "Captain Swing" in November 1830.

Throughout England 600 rioters were imprisoned; 500 sentenced to transportation; and 19 executed.


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