Welsh Popular Struggles and Strikes post 1797.

Hanes Adfywiad Cymru Goch.

Welsh Popular Struggles, Protests & Strikes post 1797.

An Introduction: Pre 1797 Possibly consider 1294 as the first popular Welsh Revolt, a protest against Colonialism, Taxation and conscription. 1316 Llywelyn Bren Revolt against Colonialism, taxation much motivated by famine. 1344 – 45 revolt, simlar motivations as revolt of 1294 (also note ethnic cleansing of Welsh out of Y Berfeddwlad). Further, also see ‘Barefoot Doggis’ peasant element within Glyndwr War and in it’s aftermath the ‘Gwerin Owain’ Outlaws. Later 16th century ‘Banditti Cambria’ also in 16th century beginnings of a Land war and note a ‘’Tax Revolt’’ in Dolgellau 1498, 16 century ‘Arson War’ in central Wales & the Forest of Snowdon affair in Gwynedd. 17th century enclosures & religious dissent. Early 17th century sees Welsh Smuggling & Piracy as a social reaction?. 1745 Rural discontent widespread throughout Wales against background of Jacobitism, in 1746 David Morgan Welsh Jacobite Rebel is executed for supporting ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ he is in the minority. The majority of Welsh ‘’Movers & Shakers’’ as from 1715 – 1745 have become Hanorvarianism Loving ‘Ich Dein’ Ancient ‘’West Britons” or as I prefer to call them ''WELSH ANGLO – SAXON PROTESTANTS'' it is they who produce ''Welsh Cultural Nationalism’' of the ‘’Welsh Cultural Renaissance’’. This thwarts development of a ''Welsh Republicanism'' as a ‘United Irishman’. Jacobinism of 18th centaury France & later the dissident radicalism & Jacobinism of Wales? However, provides basis of a British Labour tradition. The potential for a ''Welsh Republicanism'' is again thwarted by rise of Welsh Methodism & British ‘’Jingoism’’ in War with Revolutionary France to 1815 aka the ‘’Napoleonic wars’’. During much of the 19th century, Welsh anti Catholicism thwarts advance of Nationalism in Cymru, fear of ''secularist republicanism'' as advanced by Wolfe Tone and later Mazzini scares the new religious orders of non - conformity in Wales who find Liberalism and ''cultural nationalism'' more acceptable, safer and of course less threatening to their idea of a 'Cymru Fydd'.

Prologue to 1797: During the period of 1750`s - 1800`s rise in “Pobl Ceffyl Pren" disturbances with ideas of popular justice. Popular Protests break out 1793 – 1796 with major Corn/food riots throughout Wales in every major town and port 1796 Mass March of Workers on Abertawe. “Insurrectionary Fears”. It is such which causes the French to consider Wales ripe for Revolution & thus the French expedition of 22 February 1797 but the French have mis read the situation, there are no ‘United Welshmen’ to greet them but rather only ‘King & Country’ Militia & Mobs’ thus the Franco - Irish Fishguard affair becomes a ''fiasco'' or perhaps a failed conspiracy as a number of Welsh radical Welsh dissidents are jailed. (The struggle for popular “natural Justice” protest begins in these times)

Epilogue (to the below time line) Our own contemporary tmes: Other than ever continuing Language protests by CyIG & Cymuned, Anti – War Peace Protesting continues to be in vogue but main growing protest area is with Anti - Wind Mill protests. In Rural Wales – Country Side protests against Labour Government policies on hunting for a while seizes headlines and then falls away. Rather depressingly latter decade of 20th Century witnessed Race Riots on a Cardiff Housing Estate and in recent times Anti – Asylum Seeker Riots in Wrexham, the only other ''Social Disturbances'' that I have heard of taking place was a ''Parking Space disturbance'' at Swansea’s Forest Fach Retail park at Xmas 2004. Kind of sad is it not, that those 1000 years of resistance to Saxon – Anglo – Norman Conquest & then 500 years of ‘natural Justice’ struggle & workers strike all ends up as consumerist squabbling on a Retail Therapy park, wonderful?

TIME LINE OF STRUGGLE, POPULAR PROTEST AND STRIKES.

1800 - 1820. Land Enclosure Disturbances throughout Wales.

1816 - 1818. End of French wars leads to Rural Unrest in many areas of Wales
1822. Major Industrial unrest throughout the South of Wales. (Scotch Cattle?)
1822 - 1826. "Rhyfel y Sais Bach" major land enclosure revolt in Ceredigion.
1830 - 1840`s The Great Rural Revolt of the " Rebecca Rebellion".
1831. Election Riots; Caernarfon,Carmarthen,Montgomery,Llandovery.

1831 Merthyr Tudful Workers Insurrection "Red Week" "Commune Cymru"

1832 - 1835. The Scotch Cattle Welsh Workers War led by Edward Morgan.
1839. The Gwent workers Insurrection - attack on Newport. (Scotch Cattle).
1840’s Rebecca Rebellion in West Wales.

1848. Calls for a major Merthyr Chartist Rally fails to take place.

1848. Chepstow Ale Riot (drunken mob attempts to seize ale barrels).
1850. Major Workers revolt in the South centred on Aberdare. (Scotch Cattle)

1860`s,70`s,80`s & 90`s Major Industrial Areas of Wales in constant unrest.

1880`s. The Tithe Wars and Land Wars.Farm Labourers discontent 1880 –1880’s 1880’s – 1930’s The "River Wars"(referred to as the Third Rebecca revolt)
1893. Major industrial discontent and Disturbances in the South of Wales.
1902. The Great Slate Strike in Gwynedd.
1910 - 1911. Great Cambrian Lockout - Miners Strike of the South Coalfields.
1910. Ton y Pandy - Miners Revolt. The South occupied by Troops.
1911. Llanelli Railway Workers Revolt and Cardiff Dock Strike.
1919. Welsh Farm workers Strike.
1925. Ammanford violent disturbances in transport workers dispute.
1926. The Great General and Miners Strike.
1920`s Hunger Marches to London and singing in the streets.

1926. General & Continuing Miners Strike.

1931 - 1935. Discontent and Disturbances throughout the South.
1935. Stay down strikes in the Southern mining Valley's. 1936 Penyberth.
1940`s. Farmers protest against the British Army on Epynt.
1952. Welsh Republican Troubles leads to bombs and imprisonments
1960`s – 1979. Welsh Language struggle. Discontent and disturbances.
1960`s. Tryweryn Troubles leads to major militant Nationalist troubles.
1963 –1969. FWA Imprisonments & MAC Bombing Campaign.
1969. Investiture Insurrection & FWA trial (also see Patriotic Front).
1979 - 1980`s. The "Mewnlifiad Issue" and the 'Meibion Glyndwr' "Arson War".
1980’s Welsh Socialist Republican Bomb attacks.
1980`s. The Last Great Miners Strike.
2000. Rural Revolt" Initiated at Ruthin spreads throughout Wales.

The End or is it ?

There is some oppinion that forsees a future in which much of the world's population is engaged in ''Water Wars'' and ''Wheat Wars'', may we see again in Wales ''Bread Riots'', the coming of the 'Cefyl Pren'. Perhaps the day will come when another Lewis Lewis rises up the 'Baner Goch' on Hirwaun Common, and another ''Welsh Insurrection'' begins the South. I will have more to say on this in another posting, meanwhile, do not be depressed with the present victories of Capitalist Globalism, have faith and believe in final victory of the people over tyrrany, oppression and exploitation. PREPARE FOR A RED REVOLUTION by supporting attempts to annually establish a 'RED COMMUNE COMMEMORATION' IN MERTHYR TUDFUL, see future postings on this important Initiative.

RED REMBRANCER INTRO AND INDEX.

To Quote from one of Cayo's most memorable speeches at Cilmeri...."A Country needs a right and left wing, just like a bird'', at another time Cayo took me aside and said "Geth, Your a bit lefty!'' Right he was too! So why did I give so much time to an 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol Cymru' and Cofiwn Cymric Consciousness Campaigning? Whatever? that "Lefty" side of me over the years has from time to time organised events to commemorate the history of popular struggle and also from time to time indulged in radical political writting. I now have created this blog: Red Remembrancer to in main archive such radical material, record those "Lefty" events and activities, and from time to time deposit here some new radical writting plus put forward a number of ideas and initiatives to others of radical nature who may have an interest to promote and prompt such into existence? Please note below is but a brief introduction, I will have to complete at another time. Details below are but brief pointers.

My Red Roots and our Red Heritage.

I have nothing for you to join, at moment, so I urge you join Llafur, and for those who seek to see an 'Adfywiad Goch' (Cymru Goch III) I suggest a flag as starters for any future revival of a ''Welsh Socialist Alliance''. See my version of a Welsh Starry Plough. (see Ireland's great socialist James Connolly, Irish Socialist Party and the Irish Citizens Army).

In main I shall inform on history of Popular Radical Struggle in Wales from 1536 to 1936 to 19 ?

Advise on Field Trips, Rememberance events and also introduce you to some Red Rambling.

Advise on possible Commemorative events, for others to organise?

Bring you some Radical News, and pose questions: Whither Radical Socialist Struggle in Wales? Has it any future? The Communist Party is fielding a number of candidates in the May Assembly election, are they a better option to vote for, rather than the establishment parties? Will the Red Flag of 1831, rise up politically over Wales again?

Much has been researched, written and commemorated regards Merthyr 1831 and Newport 1839, but what about the years between of the Scotch Cattle Workers Underground War against the Colonial Capitalism backed by the armed force of English Imperialism. This shall be recieving more attention, and ask the question, why do we remember Dic Penderyn and Forget Edward Morgan? Edward who? Yes, quite!

Meanwhile do note, we may not have a really Radical Welsh Red Struggle but we got the Red Poets and Red Choir, details of which, their events and activities can be found on the web.

Lotta Continua.

Gethin Goch.

(bit Lefty?)


PS: QUIZ Question No 1: Pub below, now closed down is the Red Lion in So Ho, London. What is it famous for in International Socialist History? (The big Black building is, the Windmill Theatre which of course is also Internationally famouse, and still open?)

FIN!