Radical Reformers Flashcards
What was the LCS?
London Corresponding Society
What were the aims of the LCS?
Wanted to achieve universal manhood suffrage, secret ballot and payment of MPs
Who founded the LCS?
Founded by a shoe maker, named Thomas Hardy.W
When was the LCS formed?
1792
What was the composition of the LCS?
Membership was unlimited to any class and so members were skilled working men or traders.
By 1794, total active membership was 5,000
How did the members of the LCS decline?
1794 - 5,000
1796 - 2,000
1797 - 600
What methods did the LCS use?
Corresponded with other societies (such as revolutionary ones in france)
Printed pamphlets and created demonstrations.
Resorted for peaceful methods
What was the opposition to the LCS?
Loyalist associations disliked the society as they wanted to preserve liberty.
Seditious meetings act limits gathering
The LCS was infiltrated with government spies but they found that the LCS operated strictly within the law.
Why did the LCS decline in popularity?
Radicalism was silenced by the government.
More patriotism emerged during the war with France.
When were the Luddites?
1811 - 1817
What were the aims of the Luddites?
To break the new machinery in the textiles industry after it replaced their jobs.
Who made up the Luddites?
Named after Ned Ludd, the movement was made of textiles workers from the midlands who had previously worked with hand-operated machinery.
What were the methods used by the luddites?
1000 frames valued at over £6000 were destroyed
Mills attacked in Leeds, Manchester and Stockport.
Near Manchester, a power loom was attacked by a crowd of luddites which resulted in 10 killed by musket fire.
What were the government opposition to the Luddites?
Government made machinery breaking illegal by law.
Troops were stationed around industrial cities to counter the threat.
Government hung 17 luddites outside York 1813.
Why did the luddites decline?
After executions and the return to better economic conditions, Luddite action declined
When were the Hampden Clubs founded?
1812
What were the aims of the hampden clubs?
Universal suffrage & annual parliaments & policy of using petitions.
founded by John Cartwright
They replaced the LCS
What was the composition of the Hampden clubs?
Membership open to all that could pay the weekly subscription of 1 penny. Mainly made up of middle-class or aristocratic men.
Frequent meetings discussing political matters and public news.
How did the government oppose the Hampden Clubs?
H.clubs worked strictly within the law (Cartwright’s motto was ‘hold fast by the laws’) local authorities used any excuse to arrest political reformers.
Why did the Hampden Clubs decline in action?
H.Clubs could not act effectively after 1817 after the Gagging Acts were passed
(Suspension of Habeas Corpus 1817 and banning of seditious meetings – 1817)
When was The Political Register written?
1816
What were the aims of the political register?
universal manhood suffrage & annual elections
What was the political register?
Weekly pamphlet which would sell 44,000 in a week. The pamphlet avoided the high newspaper taxes imposed by the government.
What was the government response to the Political Register?
Gagging acts 1817 - suspension of habeas corpus, treason act and seditious meetings act.
What was the decline in the movement for cobbet and the political register?
To avoid arrest, Cobbett fled to America in 1817
Who was Henry Hunt?
Radical orator that wanted universal suffrage, secret ballot and annual elections