Urban + Rural Protest 1832-1848

Question 1

opposition to new poor law

Answer 1

propertied Tories
working class radicals
working class poor
urban north during trade depression
Anti-Poor Law + Factory movement (public meetings, mass meetings, press campaigns, local obstruction
south sporadic ("Bread or Blood")
died out by 1838 (divisions + Chartism)

Question 2

why did chartism occur

Answer 2

working-class political consciousness
trade depression, unemployment, hunger ("knife + fork movement")
poor working + living conditions
collapse of trade unions
opposition to 1830s Whig reforms

Question 3

Chartism origins

Answer 3

1836 London Working Men's Association
Charter published 1838
1838 100 branches
1840 National Charter Association
1842 400 branches 500,000 members

Question 4

charter

Answer 4

universal suffrage for men 21+
no property qualification for MPs
annual parliaments
equal representation
£500 per yr for MPs
secret ballot

Question 5

different elements of Chartism

Answer 5

middle class backers
working class
women
moral persuassionists
physical force chartists

Question 6

phases of chartism

Answer 6

1839 petition
1839 Llandiloes + Newport risings
1842 petition
Chartist Land Plan
Third petition 1848

Question 7

Chartism failures

Answer 7

divisions
local differences
failed to win enough middle class support
complicated aims
repression
Peels reforms

Question 8

significance of chartism

Answer 8

focus attention on working class problems
5/6 Charter points made law

Question 9

Rebecca riots causes

Answer 9

1839-1841 bad harvests
1842 import of cattle + meat, less profits
depression in iron districts
tithes, poor rate, turnpike trusts
population increase, need for jobs, land hunger
poor rate, no outdoor relief
Non conformist chapels popular, anger at tithes to CofE (1836 Tithe Commutation Act)
turnpike trusts
popular press (the Welshman)
chartist activity

Question 10

Rebecca riots

Answer 10

1839 Efailwen - tolls ended
1842 attacks began again e.g. St Clears
1842 Met police, tried to employ respectable farmers, threatening letters
July 1843 “Farmers Union” tactics changed
riots ended - farmers turned from violence, Commission into Turnpike Trusts recommendations made law 1844

Question 11

Anti-Corn Law League

Answer 11

1815 bread prices too high, 1828 Huskissons sliding scale

1838 Anti-Corn Law Association, 1839 Anti-Corn Law League

Question 12

arguments for Corn Law repeal

Answer 12

unnatural restraint on trade, Unchristian
real wage increase
import would increase trade between nations

Question 13

arguments against corn law repeal

Answer 13

influx of cheap foreign corn drive prices down + cut off in wartime
middle class plot
"Anti-League" 1844 defend protectionism

Question 14

methods of Anti-Corn Law League

Answer 14

logical arguments from Cobden + Bright
propaganda
mass meetings
tea parties + bazaars
O'Connell's support
petitions then funded members to become MPs

Question 15

stages of repeal of Corn Laws

Answer 15

little progress for 2 years
Peel reduced import duties 1842
Peel swayed by League from 1842
1845 Irish Potato Famine
Peel resigns, brought back, repeals Corn Laws 1846, resigns

Question 16

effects of corn law repeal

Answer 16

no dramatic fall in prices
farmers not ruined, developed methods, population rose, profitted
didnt help Irish until 1848 good harvests
repeal destroyed Peel + Tories
Anti-Corn Law League fell apart after aims achieved

Question 17

why was Anti-Corn Law League successful and not Chartism

Answer 17

1 simple aim, not 6
middle class funds - propaganda
logical arguments
many MPs supported free trade
won seats in parliament
Irish Famine brought matters to head
non violent