Section 2: Lord Liverpool Flashcards
What were the considerable challenges that Lord Liverpool faced?
Political instability 1801-12, economic + social issues (pop. growth/industrialisation), 20 years of war (and peace in 1815), re-emergence of radicals, inappropriate gov. policies of Liverpool himself
What issues did the coming of peace cause?
Peace took up to £40 million out of circulation, 300,000 demobilised soldiers
unemployment 500,000 in 1816
What was the issue of the industrial recession?
Exports worth £51 million in 1815 had fallen to £35 million in 1818 (less wartime industry, less uniform/weapons being sold)
What were the Corn Laws?
1815- Restrictions and tariffs on imported grain. Designed to keep grain prices high to favour domestic producers Viewed as class legislation (anti-working class)
What key radicalists were emerging?
William Cobbett’s radical publications- weekly political register and ‘Two penny trash’
Henry Hunt- radical public speaker
What were the Game Laws?
1816- Poaching made punishable by up to 7 years transportation- Many starving working class reliant on poaching Viewed as class legislation
When did Liverpool become Prime Minister?
May 1812 following Spencer assassination
Why were the reductions in income tax seen as class legislation?
Liverpool got rid of income tax- based on income, instead raised indirect taxes on food/items- so poor couldn’t afford items as they were proportionally being taxed more
When were the Luddite riots, and where?
1812-17, in Manchester, Leeds and Bradford
What were the Luddite riots?
Highly skilled workers made redundant by mechanisation, rioted at mills and destroyed frames in protest
What was the outcome of the Luddite riots?
Frame Breaking act introduced: death penalty for frame breaking- introduced by Spencer Perciville and continued by Liverpool
Were the Luddite riots revolutionary?
They were sporadic, confined to particular areas and not widespread, and the workers only wanted to return to their jobs not overthrow the gov.
When were the Spa Field Riots?
1816
What were the Spa Field riots?
Guest speaker Henry Hunt attracted large audience
Spenceans, led by Thomas Spence (wanted to overthrow gov) stormed a gun shop and stoned Prince Regent on the way to the Theatre( -they were drunken and uncontrolled)
What was the outcome of the Spa field riots?
Seditious meetings act
Was the Spa field riot a revolution in the making?
Showed motives and demands of the people but not serious as there was no organisation or real leadership
When was the March of the Blanketeers?
1817
What was the March of the Blanketeers?
March of protest to London- didn’t get far before being broken up by troops at Stockport 7 miles away
Led by John Johnson
Was the March of the Blanketeers a revolution in the making?
Not really, not well organised, failed to reach London
When was the Pentrich Uprising?
1817
What was the Pentrich uprising?
Led purely by working class Plan to march over the moors and take over Nottingham and then take over government
What was the outcome of the Pentrich uprising?
Got stopped at Nottingham
Agent Provocateur (Oliver) incited them
(All based on unreliable information)
Was the Pentrich uprising a revolution in the making?
Poorly planned and poorly executed BUT was significant in that it was a PURELY working class uprising
When was the St Peter’s field ‘Peterloo’ massacre?
1819
What happened at the Peterloo massacre?
Henry Hunt to speak August 16, 50,000 to 60,000 turned up to listen, local magistrates sent in soldiers (they got nervous at the radical crowd) Sent in over 1000 troops. 15 killed 400 wounded. Hunt arrested on no charge
What was the outcome of the Peterloo massacre?
Liverpool justified the actions of the magistrates and soldiers who took part in the massacre
Was the Peterloo massacre a revolution in the making?
No. It was a peaceful gathering which the gov overreacted to enormously
When was the Cato St conspiracy?
1820
What was the Cato St conspiracy?
Members of the society of Spencean philanthropists (including Spa fields veteran Arthur Townsend)
planned to blow up a house containing gov officials
plot uncovered by gov spies (John Castle and Oliver) that they planned to assassinate cabinet and overthrow gov.
What was the outcome of the Cato St conspiracy?
11 men charged with involvement with conspiracy
9 remaining members to death at different times, other than one who was transported for life. All dead by 1820
Was the Cato St Conspiracy a revolution in the making?
They had not fully planned their overthrow and there were only 20 members
But their tactics were very serious and they could have succeeded
When was the Queen Caroline affair/ ‘carol-oo’?
Jun-Aug 1821
What was the Queen Caroline affair?
George IV tried to divorce his wife in June 1821, she came to claim her title as Queen of England
George persuaded Liverpool to pass a bill to end marriage and stop her. Bill failed in popular protest she was popular as opposition to King and Gov
What was the outcome of the Queen Caroline affair?
She was barred from coronation in July so lost her power and died in Aug 1820
Was the Queen Caroline affair a revolution in the making?
It was extreme as she had the power to overthrow government and came extremely close
What were Peel’s motives in making penal/legal reforms?
Not humanitarian (he had previously supported severe measures in response to political opposition) Wanted gov reform as a necessity, as currently judges felt they could not impose punishments as they felt they were too severe for many crimes (death penalty)
What reforms did Peel make to the penal/legal areas?
(Death penalty removed for trivial crime around 1823)
Juries regulation act 1825
Series of laws 1826-28
1825: 278 laws relating to crimes repealed and replaced by 8 new laws
What did the series of laws 1826-28 do in relation to penal/legal reform?
Judges paid salaries instead of being paid fees for each case to establish fairness
What were the limitations of Peel’s legal/penal reforms?
Many offences not involving murder/violence still carried death penalty
1822-28 still av. 63 executions/year (similar to 1805-12)
Approved penalties still only carried out fitfully
sentences still harsh/judges often merciful as were King & privy council to whom appeals were made
When was the Banking crisis?
around 1823-4
What was the Banking crisis?
Gov introduced £1, £2 notes, more money in circulation and heightened interest in South American trade
Banks lending to dubious companies
80 regional banks collapsed in a matter of weeks
What was the impact of the Banking crisis?
people wanted their money back in gold coins- but banks could not provide
Gov restricted issuing of bank notes £5 minimum value
Let Bank of England set up regional branches
Still, more than 1500 bankruptcies in first half of 1826
When was the repeal of the combination acts?
Combination acts (1799 and 1800) repealed 1824
Why were the combination acts repealed?
House of commons in 1822 found that the acts only increased possibility of violence
What was the impact of the repealing of the combination acts?
Workers took advantage of repeal to strike, gov then introduced combinations of workmen act- declaring that workers in groups had no more right to threaten others than the individual (no trade unions or strikes)
Was Liverpool really liberal?
Didn’t sole/repeal key issues- corn laws/provisions for poor not improved/working hours not improved/ living conditions not improved
Primarily motivated by money
What was the long term history of the issue of Catholic emancipation?
There had been a long history of Catholic and Protestant conflict in Britain. British gov were suspicious of Catholics because they followed the teachings of the pope on religious and political matters
What was Liverpool’s view on Catholic emancipation?
Ruled it should remain an ‘open question’ outside of cabinet, although it remained a nagging issue
Liverpool himself remained opposed to it although post 1822 showed a more liberal attitude
What occurred during Liverpool’s cabinet reshuffle 1822-23?
Two pro-Catholics (Canning and Huskisson) were in the cabinet after 1822
What pro-Catholic bills were presented to government between 1821-27?
Plunkett’s Bill to relieve Catholic disabilities (1821)
Canning’s Bill for admitting Catholics to parliament (1825), Burdett’s bill for Catholic relief (1825)
What happened to the pro-Catholic bills presented to government 1821-27?
All three were passed in the House of Commons but rejected by the fiercely protestant House of Lords
What was the corporations act?
First introduced 1661: prevented non-Anglicans from being in a town council or any local office
What was the Test act?
First introduced 1673: all gov officers/MPs had to swear oath saying that they believe in the Church of England
What did the corporations and test act do?
Discriminated against non-conformists (Baptists/Methodists/Catholics/etc.) - laws only properly enforced in 18-19th century and from 1760s call for repeal
less concern for differences between C of E and so-called ‘dissenters’ (Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, puritans)
When did Liverpool stop being Prim minister?
17 February 1827 Prime minister Liverpool died of a stroke
Who succeeded Liverpool?
George Canning in April- Canning’s gov centred around Catholic emancipation (anti-Catholics Lord Eldon/Sir Robert Peel/Duke of Wellington refused to serve)
What did Canning do during his ministry?
persuaded Whigs into forming a coalition on the conditions that the Whigs didn’t try to repeal test/corporation acts or promote parliamentary reform. Canning wouldn’t support repeal until Catholic emancipation was achieved
What happened to end Canning’s ministry/ who succeeded him?
Canning died 8 August and the coalition fell apart
Duke of Wellington then formed a gov.
When and what was the Sacramental Test Bill?
Introduced by Lord John Russell 18 Feb 1828 and would repeal the test and corporation acts
Peel supported bill on condition that it would include declaration not to harm Protestant church/declare belief in protestant church
What were the limitations of the repeal of the test and corporation acts?
Key areas of discrimination remained- non conformists still had to pay taxes to Anglican church in ‘tithes’
Only Anglican ministers able to conduct marriage services, restrictions on nonconformist and Catholic burials
Catholics could not hold office or become MPs
What did the Catholic associations do to membership cost to aid success?
Reduced membership fees Jan 1824- from 1 guinea/yr to a penny/month
this allowed poorer workers to join=mass support + mass membership
By Autumn 1824 averaging £300/month + by March 1825 over £19,000 collected
Why did catholic association mass meetings aid their success?
Maintained morale, public display of strength, remind members of the peaceful campaign
How did the Catholic association target 40 shilling voters?
(if you rented 40s of property + you got a vote, but landlord could evict you if you didn’t vote their way)
C.A. offered support for those voting independently for the C.A. if they got evicted. Encouraged people to vote for them
What were O’Connell’s aims?
Ultimately Catholic emancipation/freedom + Irish independence, universal male suffrage, secret ballots for parliamentary election, end of Irish tithe system
Why was the Catholic association dangerous in the eyes of the government?
It was a mass movement. Fear that Ireland would be a backdoor for more war
What were O’Connell’s qualities as a leader?
Barrister by training- great orator/public speaker
intelligent, tactical ability, motivation
What was the central issue of the County Clare election?
Whether Catholics should become MPs - that the oath should be changed to allow Catholics to become MPs (and represent the majority of Irish population)
What problem did the election of O’Connell create for the government?
Lots of Catholics could be voted in but their seats would not be taken up in parliament
What did the Catholic emancipation act do?
13 April 1829: Catholic association banned, Repealed laws that discriminated against Catholics in gov (Catholics can sit in both Houses of Parliament but not be Lord Lt. Ireland/Monarch/Lord Chancellor)
Qualification for vote in Ireland raised from £2 to £10 property
Catholics can’t overthrow protestant church
What did Catholic emancipation avoid occurring?
Civil war in Ireland, alternative parliament in Dublin being formed
What was the disadvantage for Irish voters of the Catholic emancipation act?
Disenfranchised 80,000 voters causing a loss of goodwill for the gov.
What did the Catholic emancipation act cause in the Tory party?
Division: Liberal Tories wanted further electoral reform. known as ‘Canningites’
Ultra Tories felt betrayed by the gov.
Tories were largely out of office from 1829-41
