The condition of Britain in 1812 Flashcards
According to J.H Plumb, what was Britain now emerging as?
The strongest, richest and most powerful country in the world
According to J.H Plumb, what did Britain seem to be on the verge of?
Bankrupcy and social revolution
How does J.H Plumb describe the poor at this time?
Starvation drove them to wreck machinery, as they saw this as the source of their misery
How does Plumb describe the government as respoding to the violence of the poor?
With brutal repression
How does J.H Plumb describe the intellectuals at this time?
To thinking men, the horizon looked dark and foreboding
How does J.H Plumb describe France at this time?
Says they were on the verge of defeat in the struggle for a commercial empire
What does J.H Plumb say was opening up to Britain at this time?
The ports of the New World
How does J.H Plumb describe Britain at the end of the Napoleonic wars?
There was fear, envy and greed, but little hope
Outline the consequences of the economic crisis Britain was enduring at this time
There was real poverty, distress and starvation in both town and countryside
Why were the labouring classes so resentful following the Napoleonic wars?
Because they had seen people profiting off the wars
What was the consequence of the economic crisis and the negative perceptions about the Napoleonic wars?
Social unrest and outbreaks of violence
What was the consequence of the assassination of Spencer Perceval?
It created turmoil in government circles and necessitated the appointment of a sixth PM in just over a decade
Why did Lord Liverpool seem like a sensible replacement for Perceval?
- Leader of the House of Lords
- Had already served in cabinet for some time as foreign secretary, home secretary and secretary of war and the colonies
Who did Lord Liverpool select to be his home secretary?
The former PM Henry Addington, 1st Viscount of Sidmouth, who developed a reputation for ruthless and efficient crackdown on dissent
Why do some see the idea that the 5 previous PMs managed the war poorly as harsh?
They all made some contribution to strengthening Britain’s position vis-a-vis Napoleon
List the factors that led to Britain’s victory over Napoleon
- Sea power
- Military efforts in the Spanish Peninsular
- Economic blockades like the orders of council
Why was Napoleon’s continental system a failure?
Britain’s export and re-export of trade as it had a virtual monopoly on shipping goods across the world
What was the government under pressure to rescind?
The damaging orders of council
What causes the considerable rural depopulation to areas of industry?
A more capitalist system of agriculture leading to the development of fewer but larger farms
What were the result of the first and second national census?
Population increased from 10.5 millionin 1801 to 12 million in 1811
What was the consequence of the population becoming more youthful?
They were more likely to be looking for change
What were the handful of radicals in parliament concerned with at this time?
Establishing individual rights and liberties, like the right of Dissenters to hold public office, rather than an extension of the parliamentary franchise
Who was Sir Francis Burdett?
A popular champion of the radicals who was elected an MP in 1807
How did Sir Francis Burdett put pressure on government?
By repeatedly raising the issue of free and fair elections
How did Sir Francis Burdett come into conflict with government?
By criticising the House of Commons in a book written by fellow radical William Corbett called ‘Political Register’
What was Sir Francis Burdett’s punishment for speaking out against the Commons?
He was briefly imprisoned in the tower
Why did Sir Francis Burdett eventually decisde to step back?
For fear of stirring up the mob and bringing more serious against him
Which political thinker had an especially large influence on radicalism at this time?
Radicalism was greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s ideas of political reform, which he thought must come before all other types of reform. His conversion to democracy influenced a broad spectrum of politicians and administrators
Why were radical reformers cautious about making use of popular support?
They did not want to risk encouraging violence, as this could alienate respectable opinion and provide an excuse for government repression
What was the Hampden club?
Formed in 1812 by a group of leading radicals, it ‘pointed the way to the Whig-radical politics of the post war world, but had little impact as a force for real political change
Why could the exercise of political power be seen as largely the same as it was in the 1780s?
The aristocratic landed interest was still predominant
What was their a growing awareness of in terms of the exercise of political power?
The importance of commercial and manufacturing interests and a greater willingness to listen to their opinion, but not to give them a share in political power. The opinions of the labouring classes still counted for nothing
What was the consequence of Britain’s naval and military successes in the Napoleonic wars?
The emerged from the war stronger, wealthier and as the 19th century progressed, the most powerful country in the world
What provoked the increasing attacks on textile machinery?
Parliament removing centuries old legislation for the protection of domestic textile producers
What was Luddism?
The idea that workers would take any action necessary to protect their property - their labour
What did Britain seem to be on the brink of in 1812?
A political, social and economic revolution
