# Trade unions are legalized in a limited form (1824)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1824-trade-unions-are-legalized-in-a-limited-form
Categories: main-event

Parliament repealed the Combination Acts that had prohibited many forms of worker organization. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 1824 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The change opened new possibilities for collective labour politics, although restrictions soon returned.

## Why it matters
The change opened new possibilities for collective labour politics, although restrictions soon returned.

Ruler at the time: [George IV](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Trade unions are legalized in a limited form](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Trade+unions+are+legalized+in+a+limited+form&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Trade unions are legalized in a limited form](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Trade+unions+are+legalized+in+a+limited+form)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281800%E2%80%931899%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)