Re-emergence following the 1790s Flashcards
Who were the key figures of radicalism in this period?
William Cobbett - Ideas published in radical press, read by thousands, heavily influential
Henry Hunt - Skilled orator, pushed concept of ‘the mass platform’ (public meetings)
John Cartwright (created newspaper agitation)
What examples are there of increased radical organisation, over this period?
Hampden Club - Founded in 1812, where radicals gathered to to read pamphlets/discuss ideas, organised petitions to Parliament etc.
Use of pamphlets by Cobbett etc. - escaped stamp duty, ideas read by thousands, many adopted language of Cobbett, e.g. ‘Placemen’
What were the major problems in Britain by 1815?
End of Napoleonic Wars brought great hardship:
300,000 troops returning, needed emplyment as there were no pensions, falling demand in areas of economy that were supplying war effort (e.g. coal)
National debt up to £861 million, meant very high taxes, intro of indirect taxation on everyday goods like sugar and tea (big impact on the poor)
Corn Laws - Large tarriffs on wheat imports, price of wheat rose to 80 shillings, significant impact on W/C
What were some of the key radical events during this period?
1816 - Spa Fields, mass meeting, Hubnt due to attend, small section of crowd rioted, stole weapons. Govt. restored order, rejected petitions.
1817 - March of the Blanketeers - 5000 unemployed textile workers planned to march from Lancashire to London, 25,000 supporting them. Authorities broke up crowd, pursued marchers with cavalry
1817 - Pentrich Uprising, 200 unemployed workers began a march from Derbyshire to Nottingham, planned to attack a castle. Armed with a few guns, mainly pikes and forks. Group had been infiltrated by ‘William Oliver’, famous spy, authorities were alerted, troops were waiting for the marchers.
1819 - Peterloo Massacre, massive meeting planned, 60,000 gathered in St. Peter’s field, calling for reform, order given to arrest Hunt, crowd tried to close ranks around him, yeomanry used their swords to get through radicals. 11 killed, 400 injured in ensuing stampede.
What was the Government response to the Re-emergence of radicalism?
1817 - In response to Spa Fields, govt. passed the ‘Gag Acts’ - Supension of Habeas Corpus for 6 months, Seditious meetings acts, incitement to mutiny made a hanging offense. These were effective, Cobbett fled to US, Hampden clubs broke up
1819 - Following Peterloo, Parliament recalled and passed the Six Acts:
1) Act forbidding unauthorised military training 2) Act giving magistrates emergency powers 3)Act to prevent all but smallest public meetings 4) Act to prevent evasion of stamp duty 5) Act to enable magistrates to destroy seditious publications 6) Act to prevent delays by the accused in treason trials
Could be said that these acts made legal protest impossible, however they were not widely used, some were only temporary
