The Rebecca Riots were a series of protests in the 1830s-1840s by impoverished Welsh farmers against high toll fees on turnpike roads. As the farmers faced poverty and rising costs, they destroyed toll gates in protest. The government responded by sending over 1,800 soldiers and 70 policemen to restore order. Eventually a Roads Board was established to regulate tolls, which helped end the riots in Wales.

1. THE REBECCA RIOTS

2. Background
 When ? - Late 1830s/early 1840s
 Protests against high tolls on new turnpike
roads
 Protesters were farmers facing poverty
 Soldiers sent in
 5 leaders transported

3. Reasons
 Local farmers were angry at their growing poverty.
 Tollgates had been introduced on the new turnpike roads. These
were run by different companies so each chose what toll to charge.
 Farmers were having to pay rents, taxes and tithes to the Church of
Wales even if they didn’t belong to it.
 There was also a fear of new workhouses.
 Violence spread through the 1840s with tollgates being destroyed,
barns and hayricks being burnt and a workhouse being destroyed.
 The government sent in 1800 soldiers to calm the area. 70
policemen were also sent a rewards were offered for information.
 A lot of the original protestors left the movement as they felt that
criminals had taken advantage of the riots.
 Robert Peel set up an enquiry and a Roads Board was set up to
control the turnpikes and tolls and peace returned to Wales.

4. Divisions in
welsh rural
Society.
Gentry
Anglicised +
Anglican
Destruction
of gates
Agricultural
Depression Post 1815
Rising rents
Rising rural
unemployment
Local magistrates were
mostly English
Protests in
Carmarthen in 1801
and 1818 due to
shortage and high
prices of food
Causes

5. Why was the government do worried
about protests and riots?
Fear of revolution
Need for law & order
Fear of losing land

6. Now…
 Read page 79 on how the authorities
responded to the riots
 Make a table of the similarities and
differences between the reactions towards
the Peterloo massacre and the Rebecca riots.

7. Study Sources B and C.
How different are these two
sources? Use the sources and
your knowledge to explain
your answer. [9 marks]