British Workers & the US Civil War 

Although it was well-known at the time, historians since have tried to bury the record of Lancashire cotton weavers’ support for slave emancipation. In 1863 Lancashire weavers stopped the British government from joining the American civil war on the side of the Confederacy-the slave-owners in the US. Fighting for the freedom of the slaves, British workers advanced their own rights too. Their solidarity laid the basis for reforms that gave working men the vote. This is the story, told by author James Heartfield and Lecturer in U.S. Political History Dr Cheryl Hudson.
A shorter version of this film forms Chapter 1 in WORLDwrite's latest film: The UK Solidarity Story. The press kit, trailer and details of the full film are available at www.worldwrite.org.uk/video/t...