Liverpool’s policy of repression 1812-1822

Question 1

Examples of Liverpool’s - FEAR OF REVOLUTION

Answer 1

French rev 1789

• feared a revolutionary situation may develop
• Cato street Conspiracy 1820

Question 2

FEAR OF REVOLUTION HOWEVER -

Answer 2

• there was no serious threat of a revolution during this time
• there was no active revolutionary group ready to take over
• there was no loss of nerve on part of the ruling elite
• the army remained loyal

Question 3

Examples of - INCREASING RADICAL ACTIVITY

Answer 3

• spread of radical literature and ideas through the press
• fear of the spread of radical and revolutionary ideas through the working class
• radical activity, protests and riots throughout the period

Question 4

INCREASING RADICAL ACTIVITY HOWEVER-

Answer 4

• radical activity was no revolutionary
• many protests were just through marches and petitions
• radicals = reformists rather than revolutionaries
• radicals were divided and did not form a coherent group

Question 5

LORD LIVERPOOL’s APATHY TO SOLVING CAUSES EXAMPLES -

Answer 5

• gov main focus was to maintain law and order
• no professional police force= use of spies, informers, agent provocateurs and the army
• gov wanted to prove the power of the state by deterring protesters from radical and revolutionary ideas

Question 6

LORD LIVERPOOL’s APATHY TO SOLVING CAUSES COULD BE BECAUSE…

Answer 6

• the gov mistook anger over poverty and living conditions for revolutionary activity
• the gov acted accordingly considering the number, scope and complexity of problems it faced
• gov had few law and order options
• effectively deployed army into troubled areas
• agent provocateurs to disrupt illegal activity was a preventative movement
• economic improvement led to the gov introducing some reforms
• early C19th the gov didn’t have the resources to deal with hunger, unemployment and poverty

Question 7

Lord Liverpool’s effort to MAINTAIN STATUS QUO examples

Answer 7

• protect the dominance of the aristocracy and status quo
• prevent any Parliamentary reform
• Middle class sided with aristocracy against the working class

Question 8

Efforts to MAINTAIN STATUS QUO however…

Answer 8

• wider strategy adopted by the Tory party, it wasn’t just post war distress
• many decisions taken by the gov were temporary

Question 9

Following example by PITT examples

Answer 9

• Liverpool adopted a policy of repression which worked for Pitt in the 1970s

Question 10

Disadvantages of following Pitt -

Answer 10

• lacks originality

- Liverpool just maintained many of his acts rather than adapting them to time, eg combinations act 1799-1800