How did the government respond? Flashcards
What did the government suspend from 1794-95?
Habeas corpus which prevented arrests without trial
How was the suspension of Habeas corpus a useful counter measure?
It allowed the government to round up potential threats due to fears about the popular protests
What did the Seditious meetings act accomplish?
. It banned public meetings with over 50 people
. It also gave Justices of the Peace the authority to disperse any crowd
How did the government’s trial of leaders counteract the radicals?
. 13 members of the LCS society were tried for treason
. 1795 Acts - booksellers were fined or imprisoned and meetings were banned
. Added to a headless movement - making it more disorganised
What is direct evidence of putting leaders on trial working?
. By 1797, the LCS had lost a lot of its influence
. By 1799 it was made illegal by the Combination Act, which banned the existence of trade unions
How did the government’s controlling of the media combat the radicals?
. 1797 a Stamp Tax was introduced - made newspapers harder to afford which made it harder for poorer classes to buy them
. 1798, Newspaper Regulation Act was passed which limited their ability to publish critical articles
What did controlling the media ultimately achieve?
It hindered an even bigger following as the working and middle classes were not made aware of the issues
How were the Gagging Acts of 1817 significant in combatting the radicals?
. Made the temporary laws of 1795 permanent
. Included the suspending of habeas corpus
How were the use of agent provocateurs effective?
. Gain intel on any future protests or uprisings - shown in Spa Fields and Pentridge
. Yet, this was considered disreputable - cases ending in an acquittal
