RADICAL REFORMERS

When did the LCS operate

1792-1799

When did the SCI operate

1783-95

Who was the leader of the LCS

Thomas Hardy

Who was the leader of the SCI

Major John Cartwright

What was Tom Paine’s book called?

The Rights of man

When was the Treason Act

1795

When was the seditious meetings act

1795 aswell

When was Spa fields

1816

How many people turned up to Spa Fields

10,000 people

When was the Pentridge rising

1817

Who was the government spy during the pentridge rising

Oliver

When was the Peterloo massacre

1819

How many attended Peterloo?

80,000 men

What did the people want at Peterloo, aims?

Universal suffrage

How many dead at Peterloo and how many injured?

15 dead and 500 injured

When were the six acts introduced?

The Six Acts were in 1819

Aims of the LCS

Promoted Universal suffrage and annual Parliament,

Payment of MPs and secret ballot

Ws the LCS a success?

Was accessible so had lots of members,

Because of low subscription fees. Peaceful. However,

Backlash from Conservative groups and aims were too

Radical for the political context. Only 5,000 members.

Gov were worried that the French rev could be done again.

Membership of the LCS

Working class

Membership of the SCI

Middle class industralists

Aims of the SCI

Interested in discussing political affairs. Not prepared for radical activity.

Success of the SCI?

Not prepared to go beyond radical activity which would pressure Gov. membership decreased because of this

Rights of man meaning

Rights aren’t given, people are born with rights. They cannot be determined by anyone or controlled

Why was the rights of man 1 successful?

-          Accessible: Book sold cheaply

-          Appeal to those that are disenfranchised, giving them the basis to demand change

What was part 2 of the rights of man

Bc it was the practical implications of the first part. REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS!: creation of a national democratic assembly

What was the treason act (1795)

Redefined what treason actually means – defined it as: intention to imitate or overcome either Houses of parliament. Anybody who called for Parliamentary Reform could be accused of treason (PUNISHABLE BY DEATH)

What was the seditious meetings act?

Restricted the size of meetings to 50 people, unless they were approved in advance by magistrates. Banned outdoor political meetings – previously used as a method to galvanise support

What went wrong at Spa fields?

The petition came close to suggesting the use of physical force if the petitions demands were not met. – number of people left the meeting – seized the tower of London (resorted to direct action)

Government response to the spa fields.

Petition not received by prince regent. Quick action of the Lord Mayor of London and his force of constables disperse rioters and arrest their leaders. Spy encouraged the riot.

Evaluation of Spa Fields

-          The Gov instigated this – wanted violence to quickly deal with them and sentence them to treason

-          PRESENT THEM AS RADICALS! Discourage opposers from doing the same and put a dent in the reformer movement.

Gov response for Pentridge rising

-          Wanted violence to unfold, to tarnish he reputation of these reformers and position the government as strong. (“Much more desirable to let the matters come to crisis)

-          14 men were transported (To Australia) and Brandreth was hanged and beheaded.

What went wrong at the Peterloo Massacre?

didn’t make it very far – stockport, 6 miles south of Manchester.

Yeomanry involvement in Peterloo

Disproportionate to the nature of support – arrested many of the marches and dispersed most of the rest – 15 dead + 500 injured. Magistrates favoured military intervention – the size of meeting worried them

What were Henry Hunt’s nicknames

The “Orator” and the “Champion of the people”

What was henry hunts trademark

White top hat

How long was Henry Hunt jailed after Peterloo?

Two years

How did radical reformers lead to a great national debate through pamphlets

Publicising the news about the French rev. Spreading radical ideas. Eg. Paine and Burke. Profound and long lasting impact of Burke

Hiow did radical reformers achieve sucess through growing literacy

Large numbers of the working class gained access to radical propaganda. Eg. Number of papers printed annually were 1 million (1690) to 14 million (1785). Circulating to those not part of the electorate.

How did radical reformers gain success after unskilled working classes in industrial town and cities began to organise themselves into trade union

Many Hampden clubs were established esp in northern textile towns

Why was radical reformers not successful from a regional point of view?

Dominated by people and organisations in London - not whole scale. Held little attraction for the mass or working and agricultural classes. Eg. SCI – support from middle classes. LCS  - skilled workers that lacked attraction

Suspension of Habeus corpus

gave ministers time to prepare a case against radicals. allows governments to detain individuals without trial

What was the seizure of arms act?

magistrates could enter any property where they suspected arms were being stored

What was the misdemenours act?

Reduced the ability of any arrested person from being granted bail. Only had 4 days to delay – can keep someone in prison.

What was the newspaper and stamp duties act

added taxes to publications which forced their prices up – less people could afford them. Papers out of business – people have to pay – isolating working class. REPEALLED IN 1860s

What was the seditious meetings prevention act

revived 1795 +1817 Acts terms. 12 months in prison – banning flags (prevent groups to be unified with a collective identity). Limited to 50 people.

Who was William Cobbett?

the founder of the political register (newspaper circulating radical ideas) – imprisoned for 2 years – threat to gov. SIGNIFICANCE? – He was significant and made sure that newspapers were accessible.

How many copies of Thomais Paine’s book in how many years

200,000 copies sold in 2 years

John Cartwright

. First pamphlet calling for universal suffrage (1770s). Formed the Hampden club in London. – middle class and aristocratic men. Became regional. PROBLEMS – Increased subscription and had limited membership. Narrow appeal – Membership was open to all who could pay weekly subscription of one penny – filled the gap of the LCS. HOWEVER: Unable to act effectively after 1817 – exaggeration of radical ideas when they weren’t.