Radical Reformers - 1790-1819

Question 1

What was the London Corresponding Society (LCS)?

Answer 1

• Founded in 1792 by Thomas Hardy
• Promoted universal suffrage and annual parliaments
• Worked to increase political education of members (November 1792 pamphlet)
• Used peaceful protesting methods
• “that our membership be unlimited” anyone could join
• Supported by skilled class but mostly middle class

Question 2

why did the LCS fail?

Answer 2

• backlash from conservative groups
• loyalist societies established (viewed radicals as disloyal) promoting patriotic propaganda
• association movements undermining the corresponding societies (supported by government)

Question 3

why was the LCS a threat?

Answer 3

• large membership
• worked within the law
• corresponding with French revolutionaries
• politically educated members
• worked in smaller groups (harder to shut down)

Question 4

why wasn’t the LCS a threat?

Answer 4

• worked within the law (not a revolution)
• undermined by association movement
• worked in smaller groups (not herd domination)

Question 5

What was the Spa Fields Meeting?

Answer 5

• 1816
• Henry Hunt address meeting to 10,000 in East London
• Hunt presented a petition for Prince Regent urging him to reform parliament
• petition not received by Prince Regent
• 2nd meeting held December 2nd and Hunt asked to speak again
• preempted by crowd taking direct action by looting gunsmith and attempting seize tower of London
• stopped by Mayor of London
• in trial they found a government informed induced the riot
• supported by middle class

Question 6

why was Spa Fields a threat?

Answer 6

• armed
• attempted a coup
• able to gather 10,000 supporters
• No convictions due to government informant starting riot

Question 7

why was Spa Fields not a threat?

Answer 7

• lack of cohesion and unity amongst reformers (in aims and tactics)
• dismantled easily by Mayor of London
• used as deterant by Government
• Government spies effective

Question 8

what was the Pentridge rising

Answer 8

• 1817
• revolutionary activists held meeting to discuss plans for an insurrection
• joined by a government spy called Oliver
• persuaded by Oliver that there was an insurrection in London in June
• 300 men intercepted by soliders. arrested 80 of them

Question 9

what was Peterloo?

Answer 9

• Activists / Blanketeers held meeting in St Peters Field Manchester 80,000 people
• Henry Hunt invited
• wanted universal sufferage and annual parliaments
• Magistrates issued a warrant for Hunt’s arrest but Yeomantry held up by crowd who threw rocks
• troops then attacks crowd and killed 11 injured 500

Question 10

Why was Peterloo a threat?

Answer 10

• huge crowd 80,000
• mostly within the law (until troops began to move in)
• government saw need for use of soldiers