Threat of revolution, 1791-1797

Question 1

Significant background to this period.

Answer 1

In 1780, there had been a week of rioting by 50,000 people in London.
Although not a political-based tension, it showed people were prepared to revolt.

Question 2

What were the five main reasons leading to fears that revolution may happen?

Answer 2

Disruption of food supplies was causing discontent.
The cost of the war and the need to force sailors and soldiers into the military was causing discontent.
Radicals were a small minority but they were putting forward ideas which could inspire revolution.
Sailors had mutinied.
The French Revolution had shown that riots caused by more general discontent could easily turn into revolution.

Question 3

Who was Thomas Paine?

Answer 3

He published ‘The Rights of Man’ in 1791, after the French Revolution.

Question 4

What did ‘The Rights of Man’ say?

Answer 4

It justified revolution and called for major changes to the British system.

Question 5

Why was a ‘The Rights of Man’ a threat?

Answer 5

Around 50,000 copies of the book were in circulation within months after its publication - extracts were often read aloud in pubs and coffee houses.
This was a threat as a call for revolution was being spread throughout Britain.

Question 6

What did the middle class, radical organisations do?

Answer 6

These societies met and discussed radical, political ideas.

Question 7

What was The Revolutionary Society?

Answer 7

This was inspired by the French Revolution and believed that Britain and France should work together to create fairer societies in both countries, which sounded a large threat, but it was small numbers.

Question 8

What were the four main societies?

Answer 8

1. The Revolutionary Society.
2. Society of Friends of the People
3. Society of Constitutional Information.
4. London Corresponding Society.

Question 9

What did the Society of Friends of the People do?

Answer 9

This was sympathetic to the French Revolution and wanting working class people to have the vote, but was also limited by small numbers.

Question 10

What was one of the larger societies?

Answer 10

The Society of Constitutional Information.

Question 11

What did The Society of Constitutional Information do?

Answer 11

This supported Thomas Paine’s ideas and wanted parliamentary reform, but for being considered as one of this bigger societies, it still only had 2,500 members.

Question 12

What was the largest society?

Answer 12

London Corresponding Society, started by Thomas Hardy. This was the biggest of the societies and had 3,000 members by 1795.

Question 13

When was the Spithead mutiny?

Answer 13

1797

Question 14

How many ships moored at Spithead? Where? Why?

Answer 14

16 ships moored at Spithead, near the Isle of White over pay and conditions.

Question 15

What did the sailors at Spithead do? What was the outcome?

Answer 15

The sailors claimed loyalty but refused to sail. The mutiny lasted a month and eventually the Admiralty gave in and the grievances were addressed.

Question 16

How did the government feel following Spithead?

Answer 16

The government had to give in as they were terrified it would lead to a larger rebellion.

Question 17

When was the Nore naval mutiny?

Answer 17

A couple of days before the mutiny at Spithead was over, another group of sailors mutinied, having been inspired by Spithead.

Question 18

What was different about the More mutiny than Spithead?

Answer 18

The More sailors had a more political edge to their demands, and having solved the Spithead mutiny, the Admiralty took a more severe approach.

Question 19

What was the outcome of More?

Answer 19

29 of the sailors were eventually hanged.

Question 20

What three events meant people were fearful of revolution?

Answer 20

The Great Terror in France, the murder of the French monarchy and the aggressive war of Napoleon Bonaparte meant that most people were scared of the idea of revolution, not inspired by France’s example.

Question 21

When was The Great Terror in France?

Answer 21

1793-1794.

Question 22

When was the murder of the French monarchy?

Answer 22

1793.

Question 23

When was the war of Napoleon Bonaparte?

Answer 23

From 1803.

Question 24

What happened to radical ideas in the countryside?

Answer 24

Radical ideas did not spread well in the countryside where the clergy and landowners had a lot of influence and control.

Question 25

What happened to radical ideas in cities?

Answer 25

Radical ideas were more popular in the cities, but only amongst a small group of radical middle class professionals and skilled workers.

Question 26

What was the pattern with the overall movement?

Answer 26

Despite all the discontent and the work of political organisations, the movement was never united. Fox and the radical Whigs did not form effective links with the political societies. Some radicals did not share the idea of religious toleration and the naval mutinies had no links to any organisations. Ultimately, the radicals were a small minority.