The Birmingham Riots

Question 1

What did magistrates promise to rioters?

Answer 1

Protection so long as they restricted their attacks to meeting houses and left the person’s and property alone

Question 2

How much in restitution did the government demand had to be paid by the local community to those whose property has been damaged?

Answer 2

£23,000. However, the process took many years, and the vast majority received a sum less than the value of their property

Question 3

How many people are estimated to have been part of the riots?

Answer 3

250-300

Question 4

It seems some riots were actually organised by whom?

Answer 4

Birmingham officials

Question 5

Who did priestly and other dissenters blame for the riots?

Answer 5

The government, believing Pitt and his supporters had instigated them

Question 6

Why do some accuse the riots of being premeditated?

Answer 6

The rioters acted in a coordinated fashion and seemed to be led by officials. Some dissenters discovered their homes had been attacked several days before the rioters had arrived, leading them to believe there was a prepared list of victims.

Question 7

What evidence points towards the theory that officials orchestrated the riots?

Answer 7

There was a disciplined nucleus of around 30 rioters that directed the mob and stayed sober throughout the riots. Unlike the others who joined in, they could not be bribed to stop their destruction

Question 8

How long did the riots last for?

Answer 8

3-4 days

Question 9

What did the graffiti around the town say on the morning of the celebratory dinner

Answer 9

‘destruction to the Presbyterians’ and ‘church and king forever’

Question 10

What did priestlys friends do upon seeing the uproar around the dinner?

Answer 10

Dissuaded him from attending

Question 11

How many sympathisers of the French Revolution actually attended the dinner?

Answer 11

Around 90

Question 12

How many protestors greeted the arriving guests and what did they say to them?

Answer 12

60-70 and ‘no popery’

Question 13

What demographics composed the rioters?

Answer 13

Industrial artisans and labourers

Question 14

What changed about the mob by the time the guests left the dinner?

Answer 14

The amount of rioters had grown to hundreds and they began throwing stones at the departing guests

Question 15

Briefly explain what instigated the Birmingham riots?

Answer 15

There was uproar that a group of people called the ‘friends of france’ were holding a dinner to celebrate the second anniversary of the storming of the Bastille