Red Clydeside
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Presentation Transcript
Red Clydeside End of the War and post war
Maclean • At the beginning of January 1918 Maclean was appointed by Lenin as the first Bolshevik consul for Scotland. • Maclean suffered a good deal of harassment through police raids and interference with his postal services • Maclean kept up a steady schedule of addressing meetings in the west of Scotland attacking the war and praising the success of the Bolsheviks • Government tried to silence Maclean by arresting him • Maclean had a reputation as a trouble maker
Unrest in Glasgow • Glasgow witnessed a huge May Day demonstration, attended by around 100,000 people calling for an end to the war
40 hour working week • Growing support for a campaign to reduce the working week of 54 hours partly to create jobs for returning soldiers • David Lloyd George promised a ‘land fit for heroes’ • Most soldiers became disillusioned as they still faced bad housing and unemployment • Soldiers and workers wanted change
CWC • Suggested a 30 hour working week • Compromised on a 40 hour working week • Demanded though that the unemployed must be absorbed or ‘further reduction of hours must be demanded’ • By Jan 1919 huge support for a strike grew in the area
Monday 27/1/1919 • All the big factories came out on strike and support grew
Battle of George Square • Workers assembled in George Square • Estimated 90,000 people • Support for the 40 hour working week campaign and better conditions
Police read the Riot Act and strike leaders were attacked • The reading of the Riot Act was the traditional method used by police authorities to disperse crowds of protesters. • Any persons left loitering with intent after the reading of the Act was liable for arrest.
Government use of Military • Tanks and English soldiers were brought into Glasgow as the Government feared protests would turn into revolution • Feared that Scottish Soldiers would not obey orders and join the protestors • Running battles between police and demonstrators • 6 tanks were available for use stationed at the Fruit Market in Glasgow Merchant City • Machine gun posts were set up aswell at key points
Aftermath of the battle • Within a week of the Battle of George Square, the strike was over • 40 hour working week was not achieved • Striking workers from the engineering and shipbuilding industries returned to work with an agreement for a 47 hour working week • Victory in the short term for the workers