Corn Laws

Question 1

What were Peels pledges in 1841 when he was elected?

Answer 1

• Won’t repeal the corn laws

- Won’t repeal the GRA

Question 2

Why did Peel repel the Corn Law to do with the tariff reforms?

Answer 2

• Peel saw the negative effect of the Corn Laws on industry, and he didn’t like how it caused factory owners to give high wages for workers
• Peel didn’t like the artificially high prices for food

Question 3

Why did Peel repel the Corn Law to do with the Irish Famine?

Answer 3

• Peel didn’t want a similar problem in England, so wanted to change the law
• Peel wanted to help the Irish slightly, but it didn’t help much as they had a lot of grain it was just too expensive

Question 4

Why did Peel repel the Corn Law to do with the gaining public confidence?

Answer 4

• Peel wanted to allow for cheaper bread, so the Party would be strengthened in confidence
• He thought the Corn Laws undermined the authority
• It would release some of the ‘social tension’ between between the classes and make the landlords seem ‘paternalistic’

Question 5

When were the Anti-Corn Law League established?

Answer 5

1839

Question 6

What did the Anti-Corn Law League want?

Answer 6

Repeal the Corn Laws

Question 7

Who was in the Anti-Corn Law League?

Answer 7

Mostly middle class

Question 8

How did the Anti-Corn Law League raise money?

Answer 8

• In 2 League Bazaars were made Manchester in 1842 and in Covent Gardens in 1845, the Covent Gardens one made £25,000
• In 1845 one Manchester meeting raised £25,000

Question 9

How did the Anti-Corn Law League raise awareness of their cause to the public to do with the newspapers?

Answer 9

• They had their own newspaper called ‘Anti-Corn Law Circular’
• They allowed other independent newspapers free reports at League meetings then the League bought alot and distirbuted it

Question 10

How did the Anti-Corn Law League raise awareness of their cause to the public?

Answer 10

• They made propoganda in pamphlets and leaflets and were benefited rom the new Penny Post of 1840
• In 1842 everyone on the electorate register received pamphlets on repealling the Corn Law
• They sold pottery, waistcoats and other souvenirs to their supporters
• A special Free Trade Hall was built in Manchester for weekly meetings

Question 11

How did the Anti-Corn Law League raise awareness of their cause to the government?

Answer 11

• Cobden, and other MPs talked about the issues and rallied support
• In 1842, when the Anti-Corn Law League met with any politicians interested with their cause, only Cobden came, so while the government was talking about the Corn Laws, 500 went to Westminister and started shouting until the MPs could hear them
• Peel agreed with the cause

Question 12

Why was the Anti-Corn Law League successful when others weren’t?

Answer 12

• The PM agreed with their cause and it wasn’t out of fear like with Catholic Emancipation
• They had a lot of money
• They had 1 very specific and consistent goal instead of multiple
• The Anti-Corn Law League won because of the could timing of the Irish Famine, and made them seem like they wanted to help the Irish