ABSTRACT
The Ten Hours Act came into force in May, 1848, during a period of trade depression. The young persons were cheated of the ten hours day which the law had given them directly, and adult men were cheated of the ten hours day which the law had given them indirectly. A few days later began the unfortunate disagreement between Antony Ashley Cooper and the workpeople on the ten hours question that was to end in Ashley’s acceptance of a compromise at the cost of his position as leader of the textile workers. A counter deputation of masters and men, including John Wood, of Bradford, and Samuel Fielden, John Fielden’s son, hurried up to London to make it clear to Sir George Grey and to Ashley that the workers meant to stand out for the ten hours and refuse all compromise.
