Economic And Social Distress: Emerging Popular Pressure 1820-32

Question 1

Between 1821 and 1829 how much did the Gross National product of Britain grow

Answer 1

16.8%- so there was an opportunity to pursue commerce rather than public order + the Tory gov. Was able to relax its grip on the country e.g radicals like Henry Hunt was released from prison in 1832

Question 2

1822 failed bill - long way off reform

Answer 2

The Whig leader John Russel sought to introduce a bill to disenfranchise 100 of Britain’s most rotten boroughs and redistribute the seats to growing industrial citys but the motion recieved no support due to the dominant aristocratic thinking

Question 3

When were the poor harvests

Answer 3

1828-29 so the food prices brought public discontent e.g march 1830 , 200 petitions from rural areas demanding tax reductions

Question 4

Swing Riots

Answer 4

1830-31 in the south of England due to the introduction of the threshing machine which threats employment

Question 5

Growing affluence of the middle class

Answer 5

Following the economic boom in the 1820’s they had a desire for political recognition e.g Birmingham , Leeds and Sheffield were centres of commerce but had no political representation - the parliament didn’t acknowledge their problems

Question 6

Birmingham political union

Answer 6

Established in December 1829 by Thomas Atwood , created to achieve greater representation for industrial centres - quickly became a model for other unions due to their working class numbers and middle class money and respectability