Aims and tactics of extra-parliamentary protest

Question 1

What were the two common aims?

Answer 1

. Achieve universal suffrage
. Annual elections

Question 2

What were the aims and tactics of The London Corresponding Society, 1792-93?

Answer 2

. Campaigned for democratic reform, particularly annual elections and male suffrage
. Supported by artisans and small tradesmen - 3,000 members at its peak
. Advertised through pamphlets and newspaper articles - important protest tactic

Question 3

What were the aims and tactics of the Spa Fields meetings, 1816?

Answer 3

. Aim was to show support for a petition for parliamentary reform - 10,000 people attended
. Gov and Prince Regent refused to accept the petition - second meeting was organised but deteriorated into a march to the tower by more radical members present
.

Question 4

What was the result of Spa Fields?

Answer 4

Event convinced the government that revolution was a possibility?

Question 5

What were the aims and tactics of The Pentridge Rising, 1817?

Answer 5

. Armed march began with the intention of marching towards London - about 300 working-class men
. Aim was to demand a range of reforms including removing national debt

Question 6

Was the march a threat to the government?

Answer 6

. In reality it looked like one, and despite the protestors being armed, they were neither sufficiently numerous or organised to pose a real threat

Question 7

What were the tactics of the Peterloo Massacre?

Answer 7

. Protest movement declined but it resurged in 1819 when a large crowd gathered at Manchester
. Entirely peaceful public meeting - approximately 50-60,000

Question 8

Why did the Peterloo Massacre support the movement?

Answer 8

. 1,500 local magistrates were sent to arrest hunt - panicked and ended up killing 18 and injuring 700
. Newspaper articles such as The Times - protested loudly against the actions
. Massacre made the government look violent and rash