Pressure for change 1832-46: The anti-corn law league Flashcards
What was the anti corn law league?
A nationwide pressure group designed to convince the government to repeal the 1815 corn laws
When was it founded?
1838
Who were its two leaders?
Richard Cobden and John Bright, both owners of large northern textile factories
Who were Cobden and Bright strongly supported by and why was this beneficial?
The manufacturing classes - who were able to finance the movement. This provided the steady income needed to fund the kind of campaign the league wanted to run
What did the league do to avoid the pitfalls of previous pressure groups?
Their leaders were respectable middle class men who looked to work through parliament
What did the league make sure to avoid?
Riots, strikes or any kind of violence
Who did they work on gaining the support of?
The churches
What tightly orchestrated publicity campaign did they organise?
They made sure that every voter in Britain received pamphlets from the league through the new postal service
How did they maximise the new railway system?
They sent their key speakers across the country
Why did they seek the support of the press?
So that they could publicise and report on all of their activities
What did the league do to make sure its case was heard in parliament?
Put up candidates for election
What were the three main arguements made in favour of repeal by the league?
- It was a myth that it protected farmers, as it just protected the inefficient farmers
- Cheaper bread would remove the arguements for wage increases and this would help keep other prices steady
- Free traders argued that it went against the government’s laissez faire principles
What was the main counter arguement from the landowners and farmers?
Agriculture was still the biggest employer in the country, in spite of industrialisation, and repeal would damage the farming economy and lead to widespread unemployment
How did the league differentiate itself from chartism?
By sticking to one simple demand, which it could demonstrate had support from a variety of political and social groups
Why was repeal still an uphill struggle despite the league’s funding and organisation?
Because Peel had been elected on a mandate to retain the corn laws in 1841
