The Rebecca Riots

The Rebecca Riots were a series of protests in 19th-century Wales, primarily in Pembrokeshire, where landless farmers and rural workers dramatically protested against economic hardship, high tolls, and tollgate justice. Protesters, often dressed in women's clothing, targeted tollgates to disrupt the system they saw as unfairly harsh and exploitative. Their actions aimed to challenge impoverishment and social injustice, and they became symbolic of wider resistance to economic and political inequalities of that era. While initially peaceful, some disturbances led to destruction and arrests, reflecting deep grievances among rural communities struggling under economic pressures.