Radical Reformers Flashcards
The London Corresponding Society (LCS)
• formed 1792 - led by Thomas Hardy
• called for universal suffrage, secret ballot and payment of MP’s
• most members skilled working men, craftsmen and small traders
• weekly meetings, peaceful
Loyalist backlash to the radical reformers
• property classes sprang to defence of existing system
• many Britons feared a revolution similar to France
• ‘loyalist’ associations backed by government
• formed to spread anti france and anti radical propaganda
Government response to radical reformers
• 1792, proclamations against seditious writings were issued
• 1794, 41 radicals and Thomas Hardy arrested
• Habeas Corpus suspended - enabled detainment without trial
• 1795 treasonable practices and seditious meetings acts passed - aimed to intimidate
Decline of radical threat due to government
• new government policies did not need to be used but acted as an effective threat
• enabled authorities to intimidate, arrest leaders and silence propaganda
• break out of war vs france 1793 led to patriotic feeling - radicals viewed as traitors
• loyalist associations greatly outnumbered the LCS
Effects of the war with France - Luddism
• men with blackened faces attacking factories and mills by night
• occurred in industrial towns like Nottingham
• attacks on mills with new machinery that had replaced skilled workers
Impact of the war with france on Britons
• war very expensive - taxes increased to finance
• government borrowed lots of money - would have to pay interest on loans
• parliament introduced new indirect taxes on everyday items i.e. sugar - huge impact on poor
• unemployment increased as 300,000 men returned from fighting
The corn laws 1815
• landowners who dominated parliament called for ban on foreign wheat
• claimed Britain needed to be self sufficient incase of war and rising population
• governments opponents saw it as ‘class legislation’
• accused parliament of passing law to benefit landowners
William Cobbett and the political register
• William Cobbett produced a weekly political register
• published for 2d and read by thousands
• said working class starved so the rich could live in luxury
• after harsh winter led to poor harvests and inflated prices - popularity of the political register rose massively
What was the Hampden club
• Hampden club founded in 1912
• open to any man able to pay 1d. a week subscription
• 1816-17 organised petitioning campaign
• demanded reform of parliament and end to corn laws and fairer taxes
Public meetings
• associated with Henry Hunt
• known as orator Hunt due to his fiery speeches
• believed well organised, orderly and peaceful demonstrations were the correct method
Henry Hunt
• while in prison met William Cobbett
• a folk hero to the working classes
• well known for rousing speeches - Peterloo 1819
• arrested and imprisoned for 2 years after Peterloo
• became MP for Preston in 1830
Spa fields meeting, 1816
• Henry Hunt due to address the crowd
• carnival atmosphere, families from all areas
• before Hunt arrived small section of crowd rioted - broke into gun shops, seized weapons and marched towards Tower of London
• However majority of crowd was peaceful
The ‘gagging acts’
• suspension of habeas corpus
• illegal to hold a meeting of more than 50 people
The Pentridge rising 1817
• government spy known as oliver infiltrated group of workers in Derbyshire
• persuaded them to march on Nottingham to start a nationwide rebellion
• 200 men met by troops
• leaders were hanged and 30 transported
What was planned at Peter’s field, Manchester 1819
• meeting to demonstrate radical, working class strength
• over 60,000 attended
• addressed by orator Hunt
• families turned up in Sunday best
How did the local authorities respond to Henry Hunt at Peterloo
• The yeomen - a voluntary cavalry force tried to arrest Henry Hunt
• some said yeomen were drunk
• 11 killed and 400 injured
• Henry Hunt arrested
• event known as ‘peterloo’
The six acts
• banned military style drilling and training
• gave magistrates increased powers to search for arms
• banned public meetings of over 50 unless permitted by magistrate
• sped up trials
• further restrictions on press
• increased tax and stamp duty to price working class out of newspapers
What happened to Henry Hunt in 1820
• put on trial and sent to prison
• released 1822
Who was John Tyas
• times reporter
• attended ‘peterloo’
• arrested alongside Henry Hunt
• heavily critical of the authorities at peters field
Edmund Burke
• published reflections on the revolution of France
• appalled by violence
• celebrated rule by monarchy and aristocracy - felt its overthrow would lead to anarchy seen in france
Thomas Paine
• ‘the rights of man’ 1791
• applauded changes taking part in France
• advocated sweeping reforms to improve lives of w/c
• called for universal manhood suffrage
Government response to ‘Luddites’
• thousands of troops stationed in areas of threat
• machine breaking made capital offence
• Luddite threat fizzled out
