Radical Reformers 1790-1819: Extra Parliamentary Protest

Question 1

What was the situation in 1780?

Answer 1

Social status and wealth defined potential.
Individuals and groups began to campaign for improved social and political freedoms.
Common areas were the want for universal suffrage and annual elections.

Question 2

Who founded the London Corresponding Society (LCS)?

Answer 2

Thomas Hardy (Dilf)
1792-93

Question 3

What were the aims of the LCS?

Answer 3

Democratic reform, annual elections and universal male suffrage

Question 4

How many members did the LCS have and what were their methods?

Answer 4

3000 members at its peak.
Gave out handbills/pamphlets to the public.
In 1793, 6000 members of the public signed a petition saying that they supported the society.

Question 5

What was the impact of the LCS?

Answer 5

Other towns and cities founded similar organisations but these declined from 1797.
The methods of passing out pamphlets and newspaper articles was important and continued.

Question 6

When was the Spa Fields meeting?

Answer 6

1816

Question 7

What was the aim of the Spa Fields meeting?

Answer 7

To show support for a petition to the Prince Regent for parliamentary reform.
The petition that people were asked to sign was for universal male suffrage, annual general elections and the introduction of secret ballots.

Question 8

How many people attended the Spa Fields meeting?

Answer 8

10,000 people

Question 9

Who showed up to speak at the large public meeting?

Answer 9

Henry Hunt

Question 10

What happened at the second meeting?

Answer 10

2nd December 1816
Deteriorated into a march to the Tower of London by some of the radical members at the meeting. The government sent troops to break up the meeting and 4 leaders were tried for treason but were acquitted.

Question 11

What was the impact of the Spa Fields meeting?

Answer 11

Convinced the government that revolution was a possibility.

Question 12

When was the Peterloo Massacre?

Answer 12

1819

Question 13

How many people attended the Peterloo Massacre?

Answer 13

50-60,000 attended and Henry Hunt was one of the speakers.

Question 14

What did the local magistrates do about the Peterloo massacre?

Answer 14

The local magistrates panicked and sent the local yeomanry (amateur military force) of around 1500 in.
The yeomanry entered the crowd to arrest Hunt, but panicked and attacked the peaceful protesters.

Question 15

How many people died in the Peterloo Massacre?

Answer 15

An estimated 18 were killed and 700 injured.

Question 16

What was the aftermath of the Peterloo Massacre?

Answer 16

Named the Peterloo Massacre in an unsubtle comparison to the 1815 battle of Waterloo as a means of mocking the government.
Newspapers, including The Times, protested loudly against the actions of the magistrates.

Question 17

When was the Pentridge Rising

Answer 17

1817

Question 18

How many were at the Pentridge march?

Answer 18

300 working class men with pikes and some guns.

Question 19

What were the aims of the Pentridge Rising?

Answer 19

Demanding a range of reforms, including removing national debt.

Question 20

What was the significance of the Pentridge Rising?

Answer 20

Even though they were armed, the protesters were not numerous or organised to pose a real threat. The government made an example of them and 45 were tried for treason and 3 of them were hung/hanged.