7: Government: Lord Liverpool as PM Flashcards
What was Lord Liverpool’s real name?
Robert Jenkinson
True/False: The economy flourished directly after the Napoleonic Wars ended
False: There was a post-war economic slump
True/False: Historians agree that Lord Liverpool’s government consisted of two distinct halves
False: The continuity of Lord Liverpool’s government is debated between historians
When were the Corn Laws introduced?
1815
What did the Corn Laws stipulate?
That no foreign corn could be imported until the home price reached 80 shillings per quarter
Why were the Corn Laws introduced?
Foreign corn was much cheaper so British farmers struggled to sell theirs, the corn laws helped farmers, and landowners (who constituted most of government), to continue earning money
What were the consequences of the Corn Laws?
It forced the price of bread, the staple diet of the poor, to increase
Civil Unrest
Small farmers still struggled, despite the laws, due to poor harvests
When were the combination acts repealed?
1824
What followed the short trade boom between 1822 and 1824?
A rise in living costs
Recession and hardship
Strike action
What did the Amending Act do and why was it passed?
Made it illegal to ‘molest’ or ‘obstruct’ other workers, putting obstacles in the way of strikes
People were striking due to the period of recession after 1824
What changes did Robert Peel make to criminal law?
Removed the death penalty as a punishment for minor crimes such as pick-pocketing
Male and female prisoners now separated
Female prisoners were to be looked after by female wardens
His gaol (jail) acts added a degree of humanity but also greater efficiency
