Account for the distress in Merthyr at the beginning of the 19th century and discuss the significance of the Merthyr rising.

Account for the distress in Merthyr at the beginning of the 19th century and discuss the significance of the Merthyr rising. Merthyr in the beginning of the 19th century was becoming the first largest Industrial town in Wales, however with the rapid growth of this town many problems arose to cause distress to the people. The farmers were no longer able to make a living from the land due to enclosures, poor harvests and other …

…and ammunition at Hirwaun and Cefn Coed. March on Penydarren House breaks up. 6 June -March from Monmouthshire to join Merthyr crowd broken up by soldiers at Cefn Coed. Panic and arrests follow. 7 June -Mass return to work. Eighteen leaders of Rising taken into custody. 13 July - Beginning of trials at Glamorgan Assizes. 13 august -Richard Lewis hanged at Cardiff. September -Lock-out of union members in Merthyr ironworks. November -Defeat of the union and return to work.