Radical Reformers 1790-1819 Flashcards

1
Q

Two common aims of early radical reformers

A
  • universal suffrage
  • annual elections
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

London Corresponding Society

A
  • 1792-92
  • Thomas Hardy
  • modelled on French Revolution Clubs
  • annual elections, universal MALE sufferage
  • artisans and tradesmen - 3000 members
  • 1793 = 6000 signed petition in support of society views
  • others formed in other towns, discussion, pamphlets, newspaper articles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Spa Fields Meetings 1816

A

1816
- Henry Hunt spoke
- aim to gain support for Prince Regent petition for reform
- universal MALE suffrage/annual elections/secret ballots
- 10,000 at the first
- second meeting after rejection, devolved into march to ToL
- troops sent to break up a meeting, John Castle (agent provocateur) ratted, 4 leaders tried for treason
- convinced teh govt. revolution was possible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Pentridge Rising

A

1817
- armed march Pentridge -> Nottingham -> London
- 300 WC men, quarriers, pikes and guns
- range of reforms including removing national debt
- spy ratted - William Oliver, crushed by soldiers
- not a serious threat (unorganised and low number)
- govt made example: 45 tried for treason, 30 sentenced to transportation, 3 leaders HUNG

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Peterloo massacre

A
  • 1918
  • 50-60000 gathered @ St Peter’s Field (Manchester) PEACEFUL!
  • Henry Hunt spoke
  • Magistrates get spooked, call upon Local Yeoman Millitia - 1500 soldiers
  • Yeomanry arresting hunt scares protesters which is interpreted as a riot so hussars attacked
  • 18 killed, 700 injured = peterloo massacre
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Response to Raidcals: suspending Habeus Corpus

A
  • habeus corpus = prevents arrests without trials
  • suspended twice in 1974 to quell threats of popular protests (same time as LCS)
  • following the Pentridge Rising (as part of the Gagging acts 1817)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Response to Radicals: Treason act and Seditious meetings acts:

A

1795:
- TA: assaults against the king = HIGH treason, and written/spoken threats as well
- TA inspired when rubbish thrown at George III
- TA means Thomas Paines works restricted and so was distribution of pamphlets

  • SMA banned meetings over 50
  • illegal to rent a hall for debate without magistrates listened
  • Justices of the Peace can disperse any crowd
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Response to Radicals: Trials of LCS leaders

A
  • 1794
  • LCS reforming ideas too radical for parliament
  • 30 radicals tried, 13 members for high treason
  • ALL AQUITTED
  • by 1797 LCS loses its influence then outlawed in 1799 by the Combination act
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Response to Radicals: Combination Act

A

1799 - made the existence of ANY trade union or political societies illegal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Response to Radicals: Controlling the Media

A

1797: the Stamp Tax, taxed printed media, in order to make newspapers more expensive
- plus Newspaper Regulation act passed to enforce registering of newspapers, stop printing critical articles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Response to Radicals: the Gagging Acts

A
  • 1817
  • turned the Seditious Meetings Act and Treason act of 1795 into permanent laws (they were intended to be just temporary till GIII died)
  • inspired by Spa Field Meetings and Pentridge uprising
  • added more restrictions: meeting w/in a mile of parliament, banned during parliamentary session
  • suspended habeas corpus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Response to Radicals: the Six Acts

A
  • following Peterloo Massacre 1819
  • Training prevention act (can’t learn to use weapons)
  • Seizure of Arms act (magistrates can take weapons)
  • Seditious Meetings act extended (public meetings need to bee made aware to the magistrate)
  • Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act (any defamatory libel written = 17 years transportation)
  • Misdemeanours act (sped up process of getting a trial)
  • NPs and Stamp duties act
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Response to Radicals: agents provocateurs

A
  • undercover spies in reformist groups
  • used in Spa Fields and Pentridge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Failures of the reform movement by 1918

A
  • didn’t achieve objectives
  • couldn’t overcome govt opposition
  • lack of movement coordination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Failures: objectives not achieved

A
  • aims of universal/male suffrage, annual elections or secret ballots by 1819 not achieved
  • representation remained badly distributed, majority of seats decided on by south
  • rotten boroughs still prevalent, whereas north underrepresented
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Failures: inability to overcome opposition

A
  • British Govt too strong, implement so many acts!
  • eg: LCS weakened by 1799 combination acts
  • eg: stamp duty pushed many reformist publications underground
  • 1795 and 1817 - difficult to organise mass protests!
  • plus government willingness to use force to suppress! Pentrige
17
Q

Failures: lack of coordination within the movement

A
  • not unified and uncoordinated
  • radical thinkers like Cobbet, Hunt and Cartwright published their ideas but no actual leadership
  • eg: spa fields = disagreements over philosophies
  • easier for the government to oppose
18
Q

Successes:

A
  • creation of awareness around need for reform, voiced public dissatisfaction
  • high criticism of government brutality, especially after Peterloo (more criticism of government = more discontent = fuel for the movement)
  • set a precedent for future progression, not too long after 1832!
19
Q

Influences on reformist movement: International events

A
  • American War of independence (1776-83) - showed govt (British!) could be challenged, raised ideas of freedom and increased democracy
  • French Revolution (1789-99) - created discussion whether the elites deserved their power, furthered idea that all men are equal (so deserve equal representation)
  • Napoleonic War ending: 1815 - 300000 men returned to Britain for work, wages drive down + bad harvests = food like bread unattainable = discontent against the elites who can afford to eat
20
Q

Government policies that influenced parliamentary protest:

A
  • Corn Laws 1815 - corn prices HIGH (protect farmers) = prices of bread too high
  • Poor Employment act 1817 - didn’t address all and roots of economic problems, ignores requests of aid in poorest areas
  • Wartime income tax (NAP WAR) - ABOLISHED for middle classes but still taxed those in poverty!
21
Q

Influences on reformist movement: Thomas Paine and the Rights of Man

A
  • TP = experience WoI America
  • published when French Rev kicked off 1791
  • defended values of the rev, criticised govts that failed to protect public freedoms
  • emphasised immorality of Britain taxing those who cannot vote!
22
Q

Influences on reformist movement: John Cartwright and the Hampden Clubs

A
  • JC wanted universal suffrage
  • travelled to meet like minded individuals
  • formed London Hampden Club 1812 but so radical he was arrested in 1813 BUT supporters formed HCs outside of London
  • meeting with political debate, so divisions natural
23
Q

Influences on reformist movement: Cobbets Political Register

A
  • Cobbet = journalist but not a radical but saw the current system as repressive
  • accused army of corruption
  • angered by corrupt British elections
  • protest NP = Political Register, changed to pamphlet after the Stamp Tax increased so poor people could still afford it
  • 40,000 WC readers
24
Q

Influences on reformist movement: Henry Hunt

A
  • radical orator
  • universal suffrage and annual elections
  • St Peter’s field
  • 1820 = 2.5 years imprisonment
    Inspired the WC presenting suffrage as a prize!