# Trade Union Act gives unions legal recognition (1871)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1871-trade-union-act-gives-unions-legal-recognition
Categories: main-event

Parliament clarified the lawful status of trade unions and their funds. Within the broader Victorian Britain period, industrial society, mass politics, public-health reform, global empire and the Irish question dominated public life. This event is placed at 1871 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The reform strengthened organized labour as a permanent part of British society.

## Why it matters
The reform strengthened organized labour as a permanent part of British society.

Ruler at the time: [Victoria](https://english-history.com/rulers/victoria)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Trade Union Act gives unions legal recognition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Trade+Union+Act+gives+unions+legal+recognition&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Trade Union Act gives unions legal recognition](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Trade+Union+Act+gives+unions+legal+recognition)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281800%E2%80%931899%29)
- [The National Archives — Victorian resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)