radical reformers

Question 1

what was impact of french and american revolution

Answer 1

inspired radicals that change was possible and could be achieved by mounting popular support.
(terror from 1973 onward reduced support –> Napoleonic war made it unpatriotic to support radical)

Question 2

when was the american revolution

Answer 2

1765 - 1783

Question 3

when was the french revolution

Answer 3

1789 - 1799

Question 4

when did Edmund Burke publish his work

Answer 4

published ‘reflections on the revolution in France’ in 1790

Question 5

what were Edmund Burke’s central ideas

Answer 5

• revolutions always comes with violence
• gov derives authority from custom and tradition not consent of the governed
• liberty of ‘swinish multitude’ needs to be restrained
• British gov is ‘stable and wise’

Question 6

who was Thomas Paine

Answer 6

early radical, inspired by time in america

published -the rights of man (1791-92)- as response to Burke

Question 7

ideas in ‘the rights of man’

Answer 7

• tradition isn’t always a good thing
• inherited wealth shouldn’t rule the country
• everyone should be treated equally
• universal male suffrage, free education, state welfare

Question 8

impact of ‘The Rights of Man’

Answer 8

sold very cheaply, became a best seller
20,000 copies of part 2 sold in a year
political debate was no longer limited to propertied classes - inspired w/c
became the principal text for inspiring radicals

Question 9

when was the LCS founded

Answer 9

1792

Question 10

when was the Pentridge uprising

Answer 10

1817 (June)

Question 11

when was spa fields

Answer 11

1816 (Dec)

Question 12

when was Peterloo

Answer 12

1819 (Aug)

Question 13

Key individuals of LCS

Answer 13

Thomas Hardy

John Horne Tooke

Question 14

How many members in LCS

Answer 14

3000 (6000 signed saying they supported the society)

Question 15

How many attended Spa Fields meetings

Answer 15

10,000

Question 16

Key individuals in spa fields

Answer 16

Henry 'orator' hunt 
John Castle (spy)

Question 17

Key individuals in Pentridge

Answer 17

William Oliver (agent provocateur)
Jeremiah Brandreth (leader)

Question 18

Who was in involved in Pentridge

Answer 18

300 local labourers and quarry workers

Question 19

Key individuals in Peterloo

Answer 19

Henry Hunt

Samuel Bamford

Question 20

How many were at St. Peter’s field

Answer 20

50-60,000

Question 21

Main Aims for LCS and Peterloo

Answer 21

Universal male suffrage, annual parliament,

Question 22

Main Aims for Spa Fields

Answer 22

Universal male suffrage, annual parliament, Parliamentary reform and secret ballots

Question 23

What were the aims of Pentridge

Answer 23

Workers rights, overthrow Tory Gov, stronger right to vote

Question 24

Methods of Spa fields

Answer 24

2 public meetings at Spa fields London

Question 25

Methods of Peterloo

Answer 25

Peaceful marching with banners

Question 26

Outcome of LCS

Answer 26

suspension of Habeas Corpus (1794-95)
seditious writings act 1792
13 LCS leaders arrested - only 3 trials took place and all acquitted - however successfully stopped spread of radical ideas

Question 27

Outcome of Spa fields

Answer 27

Leaders arrested and put on trial- acquitted due to use of agent provocateur (Castle)
gag acts passed - suspension of habeas corpus for 6 months, seditious meetings act etc –> legislation v effective (cobbett fled to US and hampden clubs broke up

Question 28

Outcome of Pentridge

Answer 28

80 arrested
Newspapers blamed spy Oliver not protesters
45 tried for treason
15 men transported
3 (inc Brandreth) hanged and beheaded publicly

Question 29

Outcome of Peterloo

Answer 29

Local yeomanry responded with violence
11-15 killed
Over 400 injured
Huge public backlash, Peterloo became symbol of savage repression of working class by authoritarian government

Question 30

what were the Hampden clubs

Answer 30

set up by john Cartwright - tried to win ‘respectable’ support for reform - most popular in industrial heartlands- membership was limited as m/c were scared a revolution would be encouraged

Question 31

what was the significance of William Cobbett

Answer 31

published ‘weekly political register’ in 1802 - sold for 2d, read by thousands - made up language that was adopted by wider radical movement (‘taxeaters’, ‘unproductive’ and ‘idle’ upper classes) –. started printing in pamphlet form to avoid stamp duty

Question 32

why did cobbett’s influence grow 1816-17

Answer 32

very harsh winter following poor harvest –> high bread prices
high levels of discontent - Cobbett said reform was the answer