tolpuddle martyrs

• • February 1834, loveless arrested and 5 others accused of illegal oath
  • broken an old law to stop sailors in navy organising rebellions
  • real motive of arrest was to stop their POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
  • formed a ‘friendly society’ (early trade union) & wanted to protest abt their low wages
• • loveless and others sentenced to SEVEN years transportation to australia
  • conditions were harsh on ship & after arrival as a DETERRENT
  • old crown court had a press gallery & ppl protested against their convictions
  • 200,000 signatures on their harsh punishments but Home Secretary refused
  • 4 years later they were released
  • shows how public opinion could influence what was regarded as a crime & how authorities punished people