Causes of Social distress Flashcards
Key Figures 1812-1827
Prince Regent = Regent to the King
Lord Liverpool = Prime Minister
Lord Sidmouth = Home Secretary
Nicholas Vansittart = Chancellor of the Exchequer (controls the UK’s money, taxes, and government spending)
Lord Casterlegh = Foreign Secretary
What problems did the government face? (context)
In 1812 the PM, Spencer Perceval was assassinated.
His Premiership was dogged by economic problems, Luddite unrest and the continuing threat from Napoleon.
Lord Liverpool became PM.
He was tasked to deal with the end of the war with Napoleon and economic issues caused by the war.
The industrial Revolution also caused concern.
Problems and why they were problems.
End of War - loss of jobs, grief, economic state of the country.
New Machinery- Luddites and anti-automation riots.
Repeal of income tax (1816) - Upper class lose out, affected by indirect tax, Gov have to gain money in other ways so tax luxury items such as sugar.
Game Laws (1671 for over a century) - Working class do not get a diverse diet, favoured the upper class.
Bad harvests - Hunger, famine, food prices rise, lead to the implementation of the Corn Laws 1815
Lord Liverpool’s Government was well equipped
Abolition of income tax 1816 - national debt of over £876 million
Wheat prices: Fell from 126 shillings per quarter (1812) to 38 shillings (1822)
Larger workforce = Population growth: Increased from 12.6 million (1811) to 14.4 million (1821), providing a larger labor force.
Lord Liverpool’s Government was not well equipped
Low wages - child labour was cheap and plentiful: Around 49% of the workforce in cotton mills were under 18
Prices falling affect business profits : The price index fell by about 50% between 1815 and 1820 due to deflation.
Wheat Prices - 1812: 126 shillings per quarter
1815: 64 shillings per quarter
Soldiers in need of work: around 350,000 soldiers and sailors demobilised and were unable ton find work, contributing to a national unemployment rate of around 10–15% in the post-war years.
Industrial change
Abolition of income tax 1816
