Question

Explain the significance of the Matchstick girls strike for the development of the rights of the British people. 8 marks

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

The significance of the Matchstick Girls Strike for the development of the rights of the British people was the following.

The Matchstick Girls Strike of 1888 impacted life in England in that 1400 English women went on strike because they used to work for 14 hours a day producing matches under unhealthy conditions that made them sick. They worked at the Bryant and May Fabric. They had very low wages and the owners exploited them. The result of their effort was that they got better working conditions and got more rights as workers. The significance of the Matchstick Girls Strike is seen as an important moment in the history of labor rights in Britain.

Answer 2

The Matchstick girls strike took place in 1888 by women working at the Bryant & May match factory. The strike was organized due to several problems that the matchmakers faced, such as low wages, long hours and dangerous conditions due to the use of white phosphorus.

The strike was significant for the working people of Great Britain in various ways. It led to the use of the much safer red phosphorus in matches, as opposed to the dangerous white phosphorus. It also led to better wages for workers. Finally, the matchmakers also contributed to working rights by showing that political activism and strikes could lead to significant change.