Radical Reformers

Question 1

1. What was an early cause of radicalism in the 1790s?

Answer 1

The American and French Revolution.

Question 2

Who was Edmund Burke?

Answer 2

He was an MP who first aligned himself with the Old Whigs but became the father of conservatism, a break away from the traditional Tories.

Question 3

What was Burke’s book called, when was it published and what was it on?

Answer 3

He published the ‘Reflections on the revolution in France’ in 1790 and he believed in the hereditary monarchy and thought it protected Great Britain from the dangers of democracy.

Question 4

What was Burke’s central idea?

Answer 4

> Revolutionary change is always accompanied by violence.
Government derives authority from custom and tradition.
Liberty (of the ‘swinish multitude’) needs to be restrained.
Britain is the ideal combination of monarchy, aristocracy and the House of Commons.

Question 5

Who was Thomas Paine?

Answer 5

Famous early radical who wrote ‘The Rights of Man’ which became the principle text inspiring political radicals in Britain from the 1790 onwards.

Question 6

Explain the key ideas of the radical Thomas Paine?

Answer 6

> Strong belief in equality and liberty.
Society should be based on individual freedom.
Land should be shared or people without land should receive payment from the government.

Question 7

What were the key ideas in the ‘Rights of Man’?

Answer 7

> Tradition isn’t always a good thing.
Government should protect all citizens equally.
Aristocrats and inherited wealth shouldn’t rule the country.
Rights should be introduced to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

Question 8

How did the ‘Rights of Man’ book sell?

Answer 8

The book sold cheaply and became a bestseller, 100,000 copies were sold within a year.

Question 9

What changes did the London Corresponding Society (LCS) call for?

Answer 9

> The people of Great Britain to be equally represented in Parliament.
Pointed towards oppressive taxes, unjust laws, restrictions of liberty and wasting the public money.
Emphasised their opposition to violence and anarchy.

Question 10

How successful were the LCS and others in calling for reform?

Answer 10

> Total membership peaked at over 3000 in 1795.
Societies became a feature of many unrepresented towns.
The Societies held weekly meetings and printed pamphlets.
In 1793, 6000 members of the public signed a petition to say they supported the resolutions of the LCS.

Question 11

Which laws were passed to counter this threat posed by LCS?

Answer 11

> The Royal Proclamation Against Seditious Writings and Publications (1792).
The suspension of Habeas Corpus (1794-95)
‘The Two Acts’ - The Treasonable Practices Act and the Seditious Meeting Act (1795).
The Combination Act (1799).

Question 12

What did the ‘Two Acts’ do?

Answer 12

In 1795 - The first Act made words, either spoken or written treasonable. The latter prohibited meetings of more than 50 people without a magistrate.

Question 13

What did the ‘Combination Act’ do?

Answer 13

in 1799 - Prohibited trade unions and collective bargaining after a series of strikes and other political agitation by workers.

Question 14

What did the ‘Royal Proclamation Against Seditious Writings and Publications’ do?

Answer 14

In 1792 - Authorised government to use of spies, infiltrate radical groups and open private letters.

Question 15

What was the effect of this legislation and radicalism decreasing?

Answer 15

> By end of 1795 radicalism was silenced. The new powers of Pitt’s gov. rarely used and fewer than 200 were convicted under them in 1790s. Key to success was they enabled authorities to intimidate radicals - arresting leaders, silencing propaganda etc.
Return of war with French - restored patriotism.

Question 16

What were the chief complaints to have emerged by 1815?

Answer 16

> Unemployment - arising from Napoleonic Wars in 1815, thousands of ex-soldiers and sailors now looking for work.
New machines in factories replacing skilled workers.
Fluctuating food prices.
Taxes introduced to pay for costs of war - increased poverty levels.
The Corn Laws kept the price of (bread) high.
As the threat of invasion lessened, radicals were no longer held back by the thought of being unpatriotic.

Question 17

What was Luddism?

Answer 17

1810-11 - Series of attacks in the industrial areas of Lancashire, Nottingham, Yorkshire, where recently installed machines were destroyed. Carried out by skilled craftsmen who used hand operating machinery. Feared the loss of livelihoods due to new machines and use of lower paid women and children.

Question 18

How did the authorities respond to Luddism?

Answer 18

> Thousands of troops stationed in North and in Midlands to counter the Luddites.
Machine breaking made a capital offence - several executions took place.

Question 19

What problems did GB face after defeat of Napoleon in 1815?

Answer 19

Wars started 1793 - national debt vastly increased, industries (textiles, coal, engineering) had to adjust to loss of war orders , and many of GB’s trading partners’ economises were depressed. Unemployment was increasing as 300,000 troops returned home.

Question 20

How did gov. attempt reduce national debt?

Answer 20

National debt grew to £861 million - instead of continuing to use income tax, the gov. introduced indirect taxation on everyday items such as sugar, tea, candles, beer and tobacco. This raised the price and has a disproportionate impact on the poor.

Question 21

What were the Corn Laws?

Answer 21

Laws which imposed tariffs on foreign wheat and effectively banned imports until price of wheat reached 80 shillings. The Corn Laws proved controversial - critics argued they protected profits of landowners whilst impoverishing the lowest class.

Question 22

Describe the influence of John Cartwright in the early 1800s?

Answer 22

Radical agitation in the early 1800s began in the press. The ‘father’ of newspaper agitation was Major John Cartwright and remained a supporter of parliamentary reform and continued to establish links between reformers. Used newspapers to convert readers, e.g. William Cobbett.

Question 23

Who was William Cobbett?

Answer 23

Influential radical, who became an MP later, travelled around county to learn about working conditions. Corbett was a strong critic of the government - he felt they abused their privileged position and could not justify the inequality in GB.

Question 24

Describe Cobbett’s early career?

Answer 24

Published the Weekly Political Register in 1802. Initially the newspaper supported the Tory government, but Cobbett embraced reformist views after imprisonment The WPS sold cheaply and read by thousands.

Question 25

How did Liverpool’s government view affect the growth of the radical press?

Answer 25

The radical press grew despite efforts of gov. to prosecute people who wrote and distributed newspapers and pamphlets. Through this medium the feeling was fostered that a national movement existed.

Question 26

How did Cobbett’s influence grow?

Answer 26

The language used was adopted by a wider radical movement.
>He used labels to attack those in gov. and governing classes who he felt were responsible for the suffering of the people.
>Published leading articles in pamphlet form in order to escape the newspaper stamp duty.
>Gave a simple solution to a large problem of the poor harvest in the winter of 1816-17.

Question 27

Provide examples of Cobbett’s labels?

Answer 27

> ‘Placemen’/’Parasites’/‘Taxeaters’ - those who received incomes for the ‘places’ they held in government.
He targeted the unproductive and idle upper classes, in contrast with the industrious classes who strived and starved so that the rich could live in luxury.

Question 28

What were political/radical clubs?

Answer 28

Many of Cobbett’s readers attended meetings in pubs, chapels and other cottages:
>The radical club - people gathered to read articles and pamphlets and to discuss ideas.
>Hampden Club (founded by John Cartwright).

Question 29

Who joined the Hampden clubs?

Answer 29

Most popular in industrial heartlands of Lancashire, Yorskshire, the Midlands etc -
>Membership was limited by fears of punishment for formal association with a ‘revolutionary’ society.
>Others within the middle class feared that such organisations would encourage revolution.

Question 30

What were the aims of these political/radical clubs?

Answer 30

> To win over ‘respectable’ support for reform.
Achieve universal male suffrage.
Abolition of the corn laws.

Question 31

Describe the activities of these political/radical groups?

Answer 31

> Produced pamphlets financed by weekly subscriptions.
In 1816-17 a campaign to collect signatures for a petition to parliament was organised and signatures and representatives were selected at a central meeting in London.

Question 32

What were the challenges that political/radical groups had to face?

Answer 32

> As the meetings were public had to be careful of anti-sedition legislation and had to be presented as gatherings to discuss constitutional reform.
Infiltration by spies and targeting of their leaders.
In 1817, several figures in Lancashire’s Hampden clubs were arrested and imprisoned.

Question 33

What was the ‘Platform’?

Answer 33

Built around the right to petition for Parliament and providing an opportunity to show popular support for reform and highly organised native. Closely associated with Henry ‘orator’ Hunt.

Question 34

Who was Henry Hunt?

Answer 34

> Born into prosperity
Imprisoned with Cobbett’s and upon his release campaigned for manhood suffrage.
Spoke at Spa Fields and Peterloo.

Question 35

What were Henry Hunt’s core aims?

Answer 35

> No intention of winning the support of the ‘gentleman reformers’.
Didn’t want riots, only wanted organised, orderly and peaceful masses demonstrate their new power and discipline - worthy of the vote.
Method of the ‘mass platform’ - collecting thousands of signatures for petitions to Parliament.

Question 36

What was the Spa Fields protest of 1816?

Answer 36

In December 1816, huge meeting in London.
>Attended by 10,000
>Hunt was due to address the crowd and the intention to deliver a petition to Prince Regent.
>The chief concerns were parliamentary reform, abolition of taxes apart from income tax, nationalisation of land.

Question 37

Why did Spa Fields prove controversial?

Answer 37

Before Hunt arrived a small section of the crowd rioted, breaking into a gun shop, seizing weapons and marched towards the Tower of London. The riots lasted several hours and there was looting but peace was restored by nightfall.

Question 38

What was the effect of Spa fields?

Answer 38

The petitions were not delivered until 1817, over 700 of them in total, some signed by thousands. A few radicals and members of the Whig party were sympathetic but most MPs were afraid of the demonstration of popular support and didntwish to pass significant reforms, the petitions were ignored.

Question 39

How did the authorities react in 1817 after Spa Fields?

Answer 39

> After the violence, 300 arrests were made.
Pushed three measures called the ‘Gag Acts’ - Suspension of Habeus Corpus for 6 months, The seditious meetings act - restricted public meetings of more than 50 people, incitement to mutiny (made a hanging offence).

Question 40

Was the legislation of 1817 effective?

Answer 40

> Cobbett fled to US
Hampden clubs broke up and public meetings ceased.
Radicals forced to operate underground knowing that gov. spies were trying to infiltrate the groups.

Question 41

What was the Pentrich uprising of June 1817?

Answer 41

200 unemployed workers began marching from Pentrich to Nottingham where they planned to attack a castle, they were armed with weapons. Then move on to a national rebellion and join “others”.

Question 42

Why did the uprising not succeed?

Answer 42

The group was infiltrated by ‘William Oliver’ one of the most famous gov. spies and alerted the authorities to ensure troops were waiting to arrest the marchers in Nottingham.

Question 43

What were the harsh sentences and what was the effect of this?

Answer 43

3 leaders were hanged and 14 others were transported.
Evidence of governments public outcry, which was supported by Whig politicians who were keen to seize an opportunity to attack Tories.

Question 44

Who were the Blanketeers?

Answer 44

Unemployed workers, mainly weavers from Lancashire. Planned march to present Prince Regent demanding relief or distress caused by state of textile industry, the restoration of Habeus Corpus and reform of parliament. Extremely harsh economic conditions at the time.

Question 45

What happened when the crowds gathered for the March of the Blanketeers?

Answer 45

On 10th March 5000 marchers gathered with a 25,000 to cheer them (much smaller than expected). The gathering was broken up and 27 people were arrested and several hundred men were attacked by the cavalry and severely wounded.

Question 46

What were the effects of the actions taken by the government?

Answer 46

> Many marchers displayed sabre wounds.
Manchester magistrates responded with evidence of conspiracy claiming they had uncovered a plot for as 50,000 people expected to take part.
Another wave of arrests and held without trial for months
In Manchester, no more public meetings were held, and the Hampden clubs disappeared.

Question 47

Describe economic conditions of 1818?

Answer 47

Slight improvement in trade and a fall in unemployment. Habeus Corpus was restored and ban on large meetings was lifted.

Question 48

What happened during the Peterloo meeting?

Answer 48

In 1819, Over 60,000 people, many with banners proclaiming ‘Votes for All’ or ‘Reform or Death’. As Hunt some authorities became anxious and an order was given to arrest Hunt. Yeomanry used their swords to clear the path to reach Hunt and 11 people were killed and 400 injured in the ensuing stampede.

Question 49

Who was to blame for the Peterloo ‘massacre’?

Answer 49

Some said the yeomanry were drunk or certainly inexperienced. Outcry in the press and amongst critics of Parliament. Riots broke out in support of martyrs.

Question 50

What did the Six acts focus/present?

Answer 50

Despite economic situation improving radicalism was still increasing due to influence of intimidating speeches. The Six Acts suppressed peaceful protest and it could be argued that they made it impossible to protest legally.

Question 51

What were the Six Acts 1819?

Answer 51

1) Forbidded unauthorised military training.
2) Giving magistrates emergency powers to search houses for weapons.
3) Prevent all but the smallest public meetings.
4) Prevent evasions of newspaper stamp duty.
5) Enabled magistrates to seize/destroy blasphemous publications.
6) Prevent delays by the accused in blasphemy and treason trials.

Question 52

How did Liverpool’s government view growth of radical press?

Answer 52

The radical press grew despite efforts of gov. to prosecute people who wrote and distributed newspapers and pamphlets. Through this medium the feeling the feeling was fostered that a national movement existed.