Britain Depth - Radical Reformers Flashcards
What were the aims and tactics of extra-parliamentary protest?
- Achieve reform to benefit those not in the ruling class
- Universal suffrage and annual elections
What was an early example of extra-parliamentary protest?
The London Corresponding Society
What did the LCS campaign for?
- Democratic reforms
- Annual elections
- Universal male suffrage
What was the peak membership of the LCS?
3,000
What were the three main meetings called?
- Spa Fields (1816)
- Pentridge Rising (1817)
- Peterloo ( St Peter’s Field, 1819)
What was the aim of the Spa Fields meeting?
Present a petition to the Prince Regent for parliamentary reform
At the second Spa Fields meeting which group led a march on the Tower of London?
Spenceans and John Castle (a spy)
What was the intention of the Pentridge Uprising?
To march from Pentridge, Derbyshire to Nottingham and then London to demand reforms such as removing national debt.
What was the name of the spy that stopped the Pentridge Uprising?
William Oliver
How did the government act to the Pentridge Rising?
Tried 45 for treason, 30 were transported and 3 of the leaders were hanged.
How many were in attendance for Peterloo?
50,000-60,000
What escalated the Peterloo Massacre?
Local magistrates panicked and sent in the Yeomanry to arrest Henry Hunt.
What did the Yeomanry do when entering the crowd?
They panicked and attack the peaceful protestors killing 8 and injuring 700.
How was government response to extra-parliamentary threats?
Reactions were strong and direct as it was seen as unconstitutional and a threat to the established order.
When and why was Habeas Corpus suspended?
1794-95 to allow the government to round up potential threats.
What act was introduced in 1795?
Treason and Seditious Meetings Act
What was the Treason Act inspired by?
A 1795 protest where rubbish was thrown at King George III on his way to open Parliament
What did the Treason Act do?
Extended treason to include ideas that were written or spoken even without action
What works were outlawed with the Treason Act?
- Thomas Paine
- Protest Pamphlets
What did the Seditious Meetings Act do?
- Banned public meetings over 50 people
- Renting a hall for lecturing
- Debating politics without a magistrates licence
- Gave JP’s authority to disperse crowds
What happened when the leaders of the LCS were put on trial?
They were all acquitted (30 of them)
What was the 1799 Combination Act?
It banned the existence of any trade union or political society promoting political reform
Which group was ruined by the Combination Act 1799?
London Corresponding Society
What was the Stamp Tax 1797?
Tax on printed media to make it harder to afford for the less well-off
What was the Newspaper Regulation Act 1798?
Forced newspapers to register with the aim of limiting the ability to publish critical articles
What was the Gagging Acts 1817?
Made the Treason and Seditious Meeting Act into permanent Law
What resulted in the Treason and Seditious Meetings Act being brought in permanently?
Spa Fields and Pentridge
What was added into the Gagging Acts?
- Extra limits on meetings held within a mile of parliament
- Public meetings banned during a parliamentary session
- Suspended Habeas Corpus
What were the Six Acts, 1819?
- Training Prevention Act
- Seizure of Arms Act
- Seditious Meetings Act
- Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act
- Misdemeanours Act
- Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act
What was the Training Prevention Act?
Stopped civilians learning how to use weapons
What was the Seizure of Arms Act?
Allowed magistrates to seize weapons
What was the Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act?
set penalties for libel at 17 years’ transportation
What was the Misdemeanours Act?
Sped up the process of charging people and getting a trial
What was the Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act?
Raised stamp duty to 4d. on any at least monthly publication and cost less than 6d.
What were agents provocateurs?
Individuals who went undercover with reformist groups to gather evidence of illegal activities
Where were agents provocateurs used?
Spa Fields and Pentridge
How did the reform movement fail to achieve their goals by 1819?
- Lack of progress with objectives
- Inability to overcome opposition
- Lack of co-ordination within the movement
How did the reform movement achieve their goals by 1819?
- Created awareness of the issue
- Setting the scene for future progress
Overall success of the reform movement by 1819?
They created a foundation for reform but failed to achieve their goals in an immediate sense
What international events influenced extra-parliamentary protests?
- American-War of Independence (1775-83)
- French Revolution (1789-99)
- End of Napoleonic War (1815)
What policies lead to extra-parliamentary protest?
- Corn Laws (1815)
- Poor Employment Act (1817)
- Wartime income tax abolished
Why did some government policy lead to protest?
They appeared to only benefit the middle and upper classes and made people in poverty struggle financially
What book did Thomas Paine write?
Rights of Man
What event influenced the ‘Rights of Man’?
French Revolution
What did ‘Rights of Man’ say?
- Criticised government failing to protect freedom of speech and liberty to have political ideas
- In places like Britain only a fraction that paid taxes could vote
- Intended to defend the revolution
What did John Cartwright found?
The Hampden Club (1812)
What was the purpose of the Hampden Club?
United middle-class moderates with working-class radicals
What happened to the Hampden Clubs in 1816?
- Clubs opened outside of London
- Weekly meetings reading newspaper articles
- Political topics debated
What event did the Manchester Hampden Club organise?
Peterloo
Why were the Hampden Clubs limited?
Division over universal suffrage or and extension of suffrage
What did William Cobbett write?
Political Register
Why did Cobbett write the Political Register?
- Wanted Britain to be a more harmonious, peaceful place
- Saw the political system and limited voting as a repressive system
- Angered by corrupt elections
How did Cobbett get around the newspaper taxes?
Published it as a pamphlet
What was the circulation of the Political Register?
40,000 to working-class readers
What was Henry Hunt famous for?
- Being a public speaker
- Campaigning for universal suffrage and annual elections
What was Hunt’s most notable speaking event?
Peterloo
Who did Hunt inspire?
The working-class to view universal suffrage as a prize worth seeking
