anti corn law league + repeal of corn laws

Question 1

when were the Corn Laws introduced?

Answer 1

1815

Question 2

what were people against the corn laws?

Answer 2

kept the price of bread too high.

Question 3

when was the Anti-Corn Law League founded + what were their aims?

Answer 3

founded in 1838, a predominately middle class organisation, led by Richard Cobden and John Bright, to abolish the Corn Laws.

Question 4

what methods did the ACLL use if they didnt use violence and they almost always kept within the law?

Answer 4

Simple and logical arguments put forward by Cobden and Bright.

Question 5

how did the ACLL use propaganda?

Answer 5

fortnightly and later weekly newspaper, the Anti-Corn Law Circular + distributed huge amounts of leaflets and pamphlets

Question 6

why did the ACLL organise tea parties and bazaars?

Answer 6

to persuade the middle class wealthy to donate money to the cause e.g. a bazaar in Covent Garden raised £25,000 in May 1845.

Question 7

what was the 1st stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 7

presented huge petitions to parliament but the Home Secretary refused to receive petitions.

Question 8

what was the 2nd stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 8

decided to get MPs elected into parliament. made some impact and Peel reduced corn import duties laid down in 1828.

Question 9

what was the 3rd stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 9

ACLL helped to change Peels mind the Corn Laws were not serving any useful purpose and an up to date farming system would go with a to expanding industry.

Question 10

what was the 4th stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 10

summer of 1845, the Irish potato crop was ruined by blight. Peel arranged for £160,000 of maize to be
imported from the USA. In November 1845, Peel told his cabinet that the Corn Laws had to go immediately, the majority of the Cabinet opposed him and Peel resigned in December 1845.

Question 11

what was the 5th stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 11

Russell failed to form a Whig government The Repeal
Bill was introduced into the Commons, where it was debated for 5 months.

Question 12

what was the 6th stage in the repeal of the Corn Laws?

Answer 12

The Repeal Bill passed the Commons in May 1846 with Whig support. Thanks to Wellington, it passed the Lords and became law in June 1846.

Question 13

what did the repeal of the corn laws do to the tory party?

Answer 13

split and weakened the Tories. After Peel’s resignation they would spent the majority of the next 28 years in opposition.

Question 14

did the repeal of the corn laws actually reduce the price of corns?

Answer 14

no dramatic fall in the price of corn, mainly due to the fact
that when British harvests were poor,

Question 15

why did the repeal of the corn laws not have little affect on farmers?

Answer 15

Farmers developed better methods, which helped yield more per acre + town populations grew which increased demand for food.

Question 16

why did the repeal of the corn laws not have little affect on the Irish?

Answer 16

The potato crop continued to fail
until 1848, when there were good harvests.

Question 17

why did the repeal increased trade between Britain and other countries.

Answer 17

encouraged other countries to reduce duties on goods from
Britain,

Question 18

Why was the Anti-Corn Law League successful?

Answer 18

1. They had one, simple aim – to abolish the Corn Laws.
2. They put forward logical arguments.
3. It was a middle class movement, which provided sufficient funds to form
   a national organisation, and allowed it to mount an effective propaganda
   campaign.
4. It had outstanding and united leaders who won 12 seats in parliament,
   which enabled them to put their case forward to parliament effectively.
5. The Irish famine brought matters to a head. This may have persuaded
   Peel, or even provided him with an excuse for repeal.