Radical Reformers - 1789-1816 Flashcards
How many people were entitled to vote at the start of the Nineteenth century
300,000
When was the Rights of Man published
16 March 1791
Define Radicalism
- Retains the “change at the root” connotation fundamental to revolutionary societal change, altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways.
Explain what is meant by “Historically, radicalism has referred exclusively to the radical left (under the single category of far left politics) and rarely incorporating far-right politics”
There used to be a a decisive split, with left wing movements being more so labelled as radical
Summarise what is meant by a period of Enlightenment
- During the 18th and early 19th centuries there were huge changes in philosophical thought
- these were considered to be of huge influence by contemporaries who were keen to try to understand and react appropriately to the upheaval that they were witnessing
Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Highly influential Swiss/French philosopher in the mid-eighteenth century.
He produced many several works including the Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract.
What were the key ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Good
-Human beings are inherently good, but are corrupted by society (e.g political and religious institutions, science and the arts) which limits freedom and equality
What were the key ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Collectively
-People should act collectively in the interests of the common good
What were the key ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Curiosity
-curiosity and free expression should be encouraged
What were the key ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Education
-Education is essential for everyone including women
Famous Jean-Jacques Rousseau Quote
“Man is born free and everywhere is in chains.”
Who was Thomas Paine
- Influential British philosopher living in Britain and America in the second half of the eighteenth century
- Most famous for the Rights of man.
What were the key ideas of Thomas Paine
equality
society has wrong beliefs in equality and liberty (e.g opposed slavery in all forms)
What were the key ideas of Thomas Paine
freedom
Argued society should be based on individual freedom and a shared outlook of the common good
What were the key ideas of Thomas Paine
religion
Opposed all organised religion although (he was not an atheist), as he disagreed with how religion was managed
What were the key ideas of Thomas Paine
Land
Land (private property) should be shared or that those without land should receive payment from the government
In what ways do Rousseau and Paine’s ideas fit the definition of ‘radical’
- both believe that society should stem from the people
- there should be a power shift from those at the top of society, to be more inclusive to the views and rights of the common individual
Famous Thomas Paine quote
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
Why were both Rousseau and Paine’s ideas so controversial and met with rage from the authorities
- more even distribution of power was aspired for by both, which threatened the status quo
- education as a fundamental right
- threatens those who own property, with a more equal distribution of land, which impacts the voting system
- against slavery
Who was Edmund Burke
An Irish statesman who served in parliament as an MP for an English constituency
Today, Edmund Burke is regarded as ….
One of the key formative influences on British Conservative Thinking
Who does Burke align himself with in Parliament
The Whigs
but the conservative faction, dubbed the ‘Old Whigs’
The 5 Core elements of Edmund Burke’s ‘conservative’ ideology
- silent majority - people like things the way that it is
- government derives authority from traditions & customs
- a combination of monarchy, aristocracy & the house of commons creates a stable government
- a democracy can be dangerous
- revolutions are always going to be violent
Why was a democracy seen as dangerous by so many members of the ruling class in the 1790s
- It was a new, more modern system which challenged the powers of having a hereditary monarch
- Personally threatening to those who have inherited power
- Country thought not to be ready for a democracy as too uneducated
What was an integral feature of Burke’s ideology
to preserve Britain’s constitution to protect Britain from the dangers of democracy
In what ways was Burke not typically conservative
- supported the American revolution
- supported the American colonies grievances against King George 3rd and the British government accepting their desire for independence
What was Burke’s thoughts on the French Revolution
Did NOT support it - Alarmed by the reaction of the new whigs, and the likes of Richard Price, to the French Revolution
What was Burke’s thoughts on the Glorious Revolution
- Saw it as necessary exception to the rule of hereditary monarchy, to ensure stability
- Moreover, he saw it very differently, not as a democratic revolution
What did Burke do on the 1st November 1790
Published his most important work Reflections on the Revolution in France
What did Burke do in 1792
He broke from the Whigs and aligned himself with the tories
What were the key ideas of Burke’s book Reflections on the Revolution in France
- Revolutionary change is always accompanied by violence
- Liberty needs to be restrained in order to preserve the contact between govt and governed
- Britain’s govt is ‘ stable and wise’ to guarantee ancient privileges and liberties,not concerning the consent of the governed
Why did Thomas Paine spend time in America
- In 1774, Paine sailed to Philadelphia, intrigued by the colonists’ struggle for liberty, and in search of an environment in which he could safely publicise his growing dislike of the British monarchy.
Describe Thomas Paine’s time spent in America
- 13 years in America - developed ideas, in support of democracy and republicanism, and in defence of revolution as a means of securing freedom.
Describe Thomas Paine’s time in France
- In 1787 he travelled to France, where he witnessed the drama of the revolution
- Again he supported the French citizens against monarchic rule and in favour of a more democratic system
What was Thomas Paine’s most famous work called
The Rights of Man
Why was the The Rights of Man written
as a reply to Burke and a defence of Richard Price
The Rights of Man became the….
principal text inspiring political radicals in Britain from the 1790s onwards.
Key Ideas of the Rights of Man
Tradition
- Tradition is not always a good thing and it is not always desirable to respect and follow traditions.
- The decisions of previous generations should not be able to bind those that follow
- the dead should not control the living
Key Ideas of the Rights of Man
Equality
- Government should protect all citizens equally.
- Aristocrats and unearned (inherited) wealth should not rule the country as they act self-interested
Key Ideas of the Rights of Man
French Revolution
French Revolution emerged from reason and rational thought, not emotional violence (as Burke asserted).
Key Ideas of the Rights of Man
Rights
- Paine advocated for introducing a range of civil rights to improve the lives of ordinary working citizens
- these includes universal male suffrage, free education and welfare payments (e.g. pensions for the elderly)
How many copies of the Rights of Man were sold
200,000
What was revolutionary about Paine’s ideas
- Inherited wealth should not rule the country
- Civil rights and equality should be a right of the working class population
- Challenging power, hence pushing for privileges
Why did the Rights of man have so much popularity and appeal amongst the working class population
- advocates for civil rights which would improve the lives of ordinary working people
- suggested the French Revolution stemmed from reason & rational thought
- equal rights for citizens
How would Paine defend his assertion that ‘Burke is contending for the authority of the dead over the rights and freedom of the living?’
Burke is suggesting that the power that is inherited lies with the living
The rights of man does not include who
women
Who was Major John Cartwright
(1740-1824)
- Started to campaign for parliamentary reform in the 1770s,
- promoted many of the principles that Paine set out in the Rights of Man.
- Set up the Society for the Promotion of Constitutional Information in 1784
- He later established newspapers
Who was John Wilkes (1725-1797)
- An early radical MP, one of the first campaigners for parliamentary reform in the 1760s and 1770s.
Who was John Horne Tooke (1736-1812)
Key supporter of Wilkes and later, a close associate of Cartwright.
Primarily the LCS was an organisation set up to campaign for ……. ……..
Political Reform
Where did the idea for Corresponding Societies come from
From Paine’s encouragement of the re-establishment of the Society for the Promotion of Constitutional Information in 1791.
When did the first Corresponding societies open
In Sheffield in 1792, followed a month later by the LCS, which became the leading political society in London
what was the initial intention of the LCS
To write and create links with similar provincial societies
Complaints of the LCS
People of Great Britain are not __________ ___________ in parliament
Effectively represented
Solutions of the LCS
People of Great Britain are not effectively represented in parliament
Allow people to participate in society, by providing suffrage
Complaints of the LCS
Partial __________ are present in parliament
Privileges
Solutions of the LCS
Partial privileges are present in parliament
Have MPs which are chosen to represent all the people in the population
Complaints of the LCS
The government favours the _______as opposed to the general public, hence there is_________ in how representatives are chosen
Wealthy
Corruption
Solutions of the LCS
The government favours the wealthy as opposed to the general public, hence there is corruption in how representatives are chosen
Monitor the government, there should be an openness about criticising the government
LCS membership peaked at about _____ in 1795, with ____ active in the branches
3000
1500
LCS Societies became a feature of many underrepresented towns such as?
Manchester
Leeds
Norwich
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Dublin
LCS members contributed ____________ each week to fund the organisation
One penny
What activities did the the LCS do
- held weekly meetings
- printed pamphlets and corresponded with France
- they exchanged visits with the National Assembly in France (in touch with revolutionists)
- they also adopted French fashions and called each other ‘Citizen’.
Why was it significant that the LCS called members citizens
As it was a term used in the French Revolution which means we’re all equal
In 1793, _________members of the public signed a petition to say they supported the resolutions of the London Corresponding Society, the organisation could call____________ people out on to the streets for a demonstration and plans were underway to organise a convention in________
6000
Several thousand
Edinburgh
Why is it impressive that they got a petition with 6000 signatures
No postal service until 1839, so this displays very good organisation and support
In what ways would the organisation of the LCS provoke fear from those in power who feared revolution?
- High Membership - 6000 members
- Members provided services - working middle class
- Very Organised - weekly meetings, pamphlets, demonstrations
- Correspondence with France
- Raising funds
To what extent could the LCS qualities be interpreted as ‘revolutionary’?
- Societies formed in many unrepresented towns, giving more people a voice
- Strength in numbers - thousands could take streets in organised protests
- Intricate organisation
To what extent could the LCS resolutions be interpreted as ‘revolutionary’ due to French connections?
Correspondence with French Revolutionaries could spark ideas of using a guillotine
Why were loyalist associations formed
- Many people, especially the propertied classes,
- were keen to defend the existing system,
- with the aim of neutralising the threat of reformist ideas
Who did Loyalist Associations have backing from
The government
What did the Loyalist Associations do
- campaigned using anti-radical propaganda
- appearing in pamphlets, newspapers and cartoons
- which focused on anti-French sentiments and the fear of radical change.
Despite the clear support for loyalists, ______ grew as the 1790s progressed
Fear
Why did the fear of radicals grow as the 1790s progressed
1. Growth in support
- 1) The apparent growth in support for radical societies and their increased organisational capacity.
- The Society for the Friends of the People, was established in 1792, which included Whig MPs (and John Cartwright), amongst its members.
Why did the fear of radicals grow as the 1790s progressed
2. Unrest
2) A perception of increased popular unrest, based in part on evidence from local magistrates and informers.
Why did the fear of radicals grow as the 1790s progressed
3. France
3) the increased violence of the French Revolution, especially the execution of King Louie XVI in January 1793.
What was the first law passed by Pitt’s government to counter radical threat
The Royal Proclamation Against Seditious Writings and Publications
When was the ‘The Royal Proclamation Against Seditious Writings and Publications’ passed
May 1792
What did the ‘The Royal Proclamation Against Seditious Writings and Publications’ do
- Authorised the govt to make use of spies
- infiltrate radical groups
- and open private letters
- The main target was Paine and his most outspoken supporters
- These powers were expanded in December with a second proclamation
What was suspended in May 1794
until June 1795
Habeas Corpus
When was the Royal Proclaimation Against Seditious writings & publications
May 1792
When were the Treason Trials
November 1794
When were the 2 acts
November 1795
When was the Combination Act
July 1799
Why did the government suspend Habeas Corpus
- This enabled the authorities to round up suspects and detain them indefinitely without trial
- It discredits radical group leaders
- Stops Correspondence
- Scares people from joining groups such as the LCS
Define Sedition
Plotting against the government
What does Habeas Corpus mean in Latin
You must have the body
What was the initial aim of Habeas Corpus
- to stop police behaving unfairly
- so police must have evidence to arrest people
- hence depriving freedom
What happened in November 1794
The Treason Trials
Who were arrested in the treason trials
- 41 radicals (13 from the LCS),
- including Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall
- were arrested and charged with high treason
Why were the arrests in the treason trials carried out
- The arrests depended upon the suspension of Habeas Corpus
- as the only evidence against them was the plan to organise a convention
- which was argued to be a ‘pretence’ to cover for a plan to amass arms and overthrow the government
In the treason trials, initially the men were confined to the…
Tower of London
In the Treason Trials, whose trials took place
Only Hardy, Tooke and Thelwall’s trials took place - all three were found not guilty and the others were released
What were the Two Acts passed in November 1795
The Treasonable Practises act and the Seditious Meeting act
When were the Two Acts passed
November 1795
Why were the Two Acts passed
- a failed harvest
- had led to food shortages & increased prices,
- which heightened tension & political unrest
What was the aim of the the 1st of The Two Acts
- Made words, either spoken or written, not just actions, against the monarchy treasonable.
- Its aim was to intimidate - no radical was ever prosecuted under it.
What was the aim of the 2nd of The Two Acts
prohibited meetings of more than 50 people without a magistrate
When was the Combination Act passed
July 1799
What was the Combination Act
- Prohibited trades unions and collective bargaining
- after a series of strikes and other political agitation by workers
By the end of 1795, radicalism was largely ______
Silenced
The policies were rarely used as fewer than ____ people were convicted under them in the 1790s
200
What was the key to the success of Pitt’s government policies
- They enabled the authorities to intimidate and harass radicals
- arresting their leaders, silencing the propaganda and frightening many away from involvement
How did the return of war with the French in 1793 affect radicalism
- Led to a restored patriotism in Britain,
- under which radicals were increasingly viewed as enemies and traitors.
- The war with France helped to increase the membership of loyalist societies
- and Pitt’s policies were accepted by most
Why could Pitt’s government policies to counter radical threat be a mistake
- could fuel anger of revolution
- proves the radicals right that the govt are selfish and abuse their power
When was Copenhagen fields
October 1795
Which 3 leading members of the LCS attempted to organise a convention to bring together members of different reforming groups in 1794
Thomas Hardy
John Horne Tooke
John Thelwall
What happened to Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall in 1794
- When the government heard of their attempts to organise a convention,
- the 3 leaders were arrested, accused of high treason
- and were held in the Tower of London before facing trial at the old bailey
What were the 3 leading members of the LCS ‘convicted’ for in 1794
It was argued that the LCS leaders’ actions were treasonous on the basis that they encouraged people to disobey the King & parliament
Why did the jury return verdicts of not guilty for all 3 leading members of the LCS when they were convicted for treasonous actions in 1794
- They had no real evidence,
- the arrests had only been possible due to the suspension of Habeas Corpus,
- and their case depended almost entirely upon the evidence of a government ‘spy’ called Groves who claimed to have heard the defendants insulting the king
In October 1795, the attention of Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall turned to
Opposing the ‘two acts’ which were aimed very directly at them and the LCS
In October 1795, the attention of Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall turned to opposing the ‘two acts’ which were aimed very directly at them and the LCS, which culminated at……
Copenhagen Fields, which gained a lot of attention
What took place at Copenhagen fields, October 1795
- Peaceful Protest
- A crowd of over 100,000 people gathered to listen to Thelwall’s speech
- The crowd tried to create a petition against the ‘Seditious Meeting Act’, 1795, to take to parliament to protest against the restrictions
Why did Copenhagen fields concern the government
Two Acts don’t scare people - crowd of 100,000 formed
Leaders of LCS were arrested but then just continued to protest as they were before
What took place on 29th October 1795, three days after Copenhagen fields
- State opening of Parliament,
- some how a rock hit the monarchs carriage, which initiated violence,
- similar to that of the French Revolution
What is significant about the State Opening’s timing (3 days after Copenhagen fields)
- Dramatic shift in tone of protest
- Gave a negative perception of Copenhagen Firlds - could suggest they were linked
- Convenient for government - proof against the radicals
What is the evidence that the LCS was responsible for the violence at the State opening of parliament
- frustrations with war, rising food prices & hardship - they had motivations for violence
- protestors called for ‘bread’ & ‘peace’, both necessities which could justify violence
Assess whether the government orchestrated or exaggerated the violence in 1785 to enable it to enact more restrictive measures
On the assumption it was treason, they passed the treason act & seditious meeting act, which were direct consequences of confusing and unclear acts of violence
Following the State Opening of Parliament, the LCS leaders chose to…
Distance themselves from the assaults
What were the threats posed by the LCS
- Large, loyal support - 100,000 gathered at Copenhagen Fields
- Had leadership which was intelligent - chose to distance themselves from assaults
- Well organised (more than other groups) - allowed them to develop, adapt and share ideas
What were the weaknesses of the LCS
- Strengths of LCS are limited
- Not that organised
- Assumed guilt by association/circumstance for getting involved in hate crimes over food shortages/ prices, war & hardship
- Govt has power to undermine and discredit them
What were the strengths of the government against the LCS
- Much more power and influence
- Resources - army, judiciary, police & spies
- Spies - generates evidence, creates fear
- Law on their side - can enforce arts to undermine LCS
Complaints in 1815 Britain
- Unemployment
- Food prices
- Taxes
- Bread
Explain the complaint in 1815 Britain
Unemployment
- Due to the Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815 many industries supplying armies boomed
- Post-wars, orders reduced & people lost their jobs
- returning soldiers also largely seeked work
- Factories were introducing new machines that were taking the place of skilled labourers
Explain the complaint in 1815 Britain
Food prices
- Food prices were sometimes very high, making it difficult for workers to feed their families
Explain the complaint in 1815 Britain
Government taxes
Government taxes were raised to help pay off debts incurred form the war with France - this included taxing food
Explain the complaint in 1815 Britain
Bread
The government also passed a Corn law that kept the price of bread artificially high, so ordinary people had to pay more for their bread
In the 1800s, as the threat of invasion receded, the campaign for…
reform began to revive
Describe the series of attacks in the industrial areas in Nottingham, Yorkshire and Lancashire in 1810-11
- men with blackened faces
- conducting night time attacks on factories
- in which they destroyed machines, particularly those which had been recently installed.
Who perpetrated the series of attacks in the industrial areas in Nottingham, Yorkshire and Lancashire in 1810-11
- Skilled craftsmen who feared:
- the loss of their livelihoods due to the new machines
- and the increasing employment of lower paid women and children to operate the machines
What were the people who perpetrated the series of attacks in the industrial areas in Nottingham, Yorkshire and Lancashire in 1810-11known as
The Luddites
Attacks by the Luddites were often preceded by…
- Letters, clearly designed to intimidate, which offered mill-owners the chance to remove the machines in order to prevent an attack
What were the Luddite’s main complaints
- Selfishness of mill-owners who prioritised profit over people
- Machinery stealing jobs & reducing wages
- skilled workers being unemployed - disregard for destroying people’s livelihoods
- abusive child labour
- mistreatment of women
Although the Luddite attacks were not politically motivated, why would intimidating letters have heightened the alarm caused by the Luddites’ activities?
- Not only property and businesses were threatened - but also people’s lives
- Aggressive and threatening nature - could easily begin to threaten the govt
- Letter writing is a political tactic, seems organised as letters are signed by the same person, though attacks aren’t necessarily linked
Who did the Luddites sign their letters by
General Ned Ludd
How did the authorities respond to the Luddite attacks
- Decisively
- Thousands of troops were stationed in the North and in the Midlands to counter the Luddite threat.
- Machine breaking was made a capital offence - several executions took place, e.g three men convicted of Horsfall’s murder ( a mill-owner)
Positive Consequences of the war ending with France, with Britain victorious in 1815
- Britain was firmly established as having the greatest of powers
- Largest navy
- The biggest share of world trade, & the most developed industry
- London was the financial capital of the world
When was Luddite activity at its height
1810-12
Negative Consequences of the war ending with France, with Britain victorious in 1815
- National Debt had vastly increased
- important trade partners would also need to adjust to a peacetime economy
- pressure from imminent arrival of demobilised troops seeking employment
What did the men in power - post war with France in 1815 have in common (members of Lord Liverpool’s Cabinet)
- All Lords, not MPs - inherited power
- lots of govt & legal experience
- Educated at oxbridge
- gained power through family relations e.g nepotism
- very wealthy landowners
What were the difference between the men in power - post war with France in 1815 (members of Lord Liverpool’s Cabinet)
From different places across the Uk
In what ways were Lord Liverpool’s cabinet lacking in 1815
ignorant towards the poor and oblivious to the changes driven by them taking place in the country
Describe the economic issue of unemployment in 1815
- 300,000 troops returned from the battlefield looking for work.
- no pensions or allowances - need employment to survive.
- demand fell & workers were liad off in industries such as
- textiles - no longer making uniforms
- and coal, iron and engineering - no need to be producing weapons
By 1815, the national debt had grown to…
£861 million
In 1815, the government raised taxes in order to pay the interest on the national debt, so taxes accounted for ….% of the governments total income
80%
During the war how had the government paid for the war
income tax
Liverpool’s government insisted income tax would only be in place in the war, which the government kept to, so instead they…
introduced indirect taxation on everyday items, which raised the prices, having a disproportionate impact on the poor
During the war, Britain had to rely almost entirely on ……………..of wheat to meet the demand for bread (the staple diet).
home grown production
Why did the landowners who dominated parliament demand a ban on imports of foreign wheat
- Britain needed to be self-sufficient in case of another war and to feed the rapidly growing population
- this would prevent hunger and famine which was seen as a key cause of revolution (France)
- Agriculture remained the primary employer in Britain
Why were the corn laws immensely controversial
- they served solely to protect the profits and rents of landowners whilst further impoverishing the lowest class, further evidence of injustice
What was implemented in 1815-26 which increased the price of bread
The Corn Laws
What counter arguments could be made to the landowner’s justification for the corn laws
- it gives no incentive for British farmers to increase wheat yields
- increases bread & food prices
Why would the changes experienced in 1815 be likely to lead to a re-emergence of radicalism?
- Govt being cynical, favouring landowners, increasing the wealth divide
- Approving of farmers less efficient work practises
- Lower quality of live or the working classes
Where did radical agitation in the early 1800s begin
press
Who was the ‘father’ of newspaper agitation, who remained a key radical figure after his involvement with the LCS and the campaign for reform in the 1780s & 1790s
Major John Cartwright
How did Major John Cartwright achieve the Corresponding societies goal of establishing links between reformers across the country from 1800-10
Travelling from the Midlands, through the North of England and into Scotland, where he gained first-hand experience of the widespread impact of economic hardship
How did Major John Cartwright gain support for parliamentary reform on his travels
He used newspapers, such as the Manchester Observer (which he helped to found) to convert readers and listeners to his cause, and soon many others followed suit.
What was the most well-known, and widely read newspaper of John Cartwright
The Manchester Observer
What was good about Major John Cartwright’s newspapers
accessible language for working class people, ‘excitingly written’
Summary of William Cobbett
- Highly influential radical, later became an MP
- Cobbett travelled around the country to learn about living and working conditions
- Strong critic of the government - felt they abused their privileged position and could not justify the inequality that existed in British Society
How did the radical press grow from 1800-20, despite the best efforts of the government to prosecute people who wrote and distributed the press
Newspapers, periodicals and pamphlets
What was the effect of an increase in radical press on the poor
- feeling was fostered that a movement existed rather than a series of local initiatives.
- Many of the weekly newspapers adopted names to instil fear into the authorites, like The Black Dwarf
List Cobbetts different newspapers as he progressed throughout his life
- Porcupine’s Gazette - broad sheet critical of Thomas Paine in the 1790s
- Weekly Political Register - initially supported Torys but increasingly embraced reformist views which were solidified in 1810 after his imprisonment for flogging the army
Describe Cobbett’s Weekly Political register
sold for 2p
was read by thousands and which influenced many more via word of mouth
In Cobbett’s writing, he would use labels to attack…
those within the government who he felt were responsible for the suffering of the people
What are the reasons for Cobbett’s growing influence after 1815
form of publishing
- began publishing his leading political articles in pamphlet form
- which were more accessible as newspapers were being taxed, making these more affordable
What are the reasons for Cobbett’s growing influence after 1815
what he wrote about and how
- quite patriotic, was critical of the French Revolution, traditionalist, but also thinks things are unfair
- inclusive, understanding appealing language
- directed the poor on the true cause of their suffering - reasoning behind their suffering, so the poor could understand who caused it
What was Cobbett’s most famous quote
“I defy you to agitate any fellow with a full stomach”
What does Cobbett mean when he says “I defy you to agitate any fellow with a full stomach”
- There is a food crisis which is harming the poorest & most vulnerable -
- however it is hard to make people listen to protest when they have enough food to eat
- Moreover, sucessful radical protest depends on the economy suffering
Many of Cobbett’s readers attended meetings in pubs, chapels and cottages;
In radical clubs where people gathered to discuss ideas and read pamphlets/ articles
The best known of these was the…
Hampden Club
When was the Hampden club founded
1812
Who established the Hampden Club
John Cartwright
Strengths of the membership of the Hampden club
- Wide spread - popular in industrial heartlands of Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Central Scotland
- Any man could join on a payment of 1p per week
Weaknesses of the membership of the Hampden club
- Membership was limited by fears of punishment by the authorities for formal association with a revolutionary’ society.
- Others within the middle-class were reluctant to join because they feared that such organisations could encourage a revolution.
What were the aims of the Hampden Club
- To win over ‘respectable’ support for reform
- Achieve ‘manhood suffrage’
- Abolition of the Corn Laws
Strengths of the activities of the Hampden club
- Use subscription money to finance the production of pamphlets
- In 1816/17 - campaign to collect signatures for a petition to parliament was organised
- Signatures were collected at branch meetings and representatives were selected from local meetings to attend a central meeting in London
- Strongest support was in Lancashire, where thousands of weavers, threatened with the loss of their jobs, were at the forefront of agitation
Weaknesses of the activities of the Hampden club
- Had to be careful not to fall foul of anti-sedition legislation
- Faced significant challenges from government, including infiltration by spies, and targeting of their leaders by local constables
- Over time they increasingly found it difficult even to find private places that would allow them to hold their meetings
• In 1817, several leading figures in Lancashire’s Hampden Clubs (in and around Manchester) were…
were arrested, sent to London in chains, and imprisoned for several months before being released without charge. One of these was Samuel Bamford
Who was Henry Hunt
Radical Orator
After 1815, he became the most prominent popular radical leader
Who was Henry Hunt’s target demographic
no intention of winning the support of ‘gentleman reformers and instead he looked to huge outdoor meetings attended by ‘members unlimited’ to rouse the masses.
What was Henry Hunt’s tactics
He did not want any riots, so he used ‘mass platform’ - massive demonstrations, and collection of thousands of signatures for petitions to Parliament, would form the platform for putting irresistible pressure on Parliament to reform itself. The largest meetings were held in cities like Manchester, Birmingham and London.
