Studies of social unrest typically focus on either structural factors or diffusion. We argue that the two are closely linked, and examine the importance of three categories of structural factors, how changes in local factors can generate unrest in other areas through diffusion, and the extent to which different factors affect a location’s susceptibility to unrest diffusing in from elsewhere. Using data from the English Swing riots of 1830-31, an episode that involved nearly 3,000 incidents, allows us to observe the structural factors relevant to specific incidents in a way that is not possible with contemporary data. We find that factors related to economic activity triggered the unrest, both economic factors and local leadership facilitated its diffusion, and diffusion multiplied by 3.15 the effect of an increase in a local factor. The complex interplay between structural factors and diffusion we uncover is of relevance to contemporary episodes of social unrest.