4. Radical Reformers 1780-1819

Edmund Burke

November 1790 Edmund Burke's 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' appalled by violence in France, celebrated rule by monarchy and aristocracy

Tom Paine

'The Rights of Man'- applauded changes in France, dismissed Burke's insistence on tradition
Paine opposed rule by aristocracy, against unearned privilege and inherited wealth, advocated reform, called for universal manhood suffrage- revolutionary
Became a bestseller- 200,000 copies of Part II sold within a year

London Corresponding Society

Formed January 1792
Held weekly meetings, discussed poverty and high prices faced by working people, called for universal manhood suffrage, secret ballot and payment for MPs, most members skilled working men

Loyalist backlash

'Loyalist' associations formed with government backing, widespread support, appealed to hatred of France, public fear of radical change, campaign of anti-radical propaganda

Government response to reform

1792 proclamations against seditious writings issued, 1794 41 radicals arrested, 1795 Seditious Meetings Act and Treasonable Practices Act passed

Success of government policy

Threat hung over radicals, did not need to be used often, many frightened into abandoning movement, radicals viewed as traitors as war between Britain and France broke out 1793, revival of patriotism

Luddism

Attacks on factories and mills 1810-11- Luddites
Perpetrators mostly skilled men, still used hand-operated machinery, threatened by job loss from new machines

Counter to Luddites

Thousands of troops stationed in the north and Midlands, machine breaking made a capital offence- petered out attacks

Agitation 1815

Political agitation emerged- demanded complete manhood suffrage

End of war 1815

Taxes and war debt, underemployment, Corn Laws

Three main forms of radical agitation 1815-19

Campaigns in the press, political clubs, public meetings

Radical press

Major John Cartwright- travelled to see how areas affected by economic hardship, established links between reformers across the country
William Cobbett- produced Weekly Political Register- read by thousands, attacked govt and hangers-on- placemen, fundholders and pensioners

Winter 1816-17

Harsh- poor harvest, rise in bread prices, Cobbett's writings read widely, increased influence

Political clubs

Hampden Club founded 1812, formed to agitate for general suffrage, wanted to win respectable support for reform, organised petitioning campaign 1816-17

Public meetings

Henry Hunt- huge outdoor meetings to rouse the masses, did not want riots- 'mass platform'- massive demonstrations and collection of thousands of signatures

Spa Fields Meeting

December 1816
Atmosphere like a carnival, thousands joined, banners and bands, market stalls, slogans, small section rioted and stole weapons, looted, but most peaceful

1817

Government received over 700 petitions, some had thousands of signatures, most MPs afraid of this demonstration of popular feeling

Government response to radical protest

Felt threatened- suspended habeas corpus, 1817 Act made it illegal to hold meetings of more than 50 people- these Acts known as 'Gagging Acts'
Forced radicals underground and into secrecy, govt resorted to use of spies and informers

Pentridge Rising

June 1817
'Oliver' govt spy infiltrated group of workers in Derbyshire, got them to organise a march on Nottingham
200 men set off from Pentridge, Derbyshire to march to Nottingham June 1817, met by troops, leaders hanged, 30 transported

1819

Four huge meetings planned as demonstration of radical, working-class strength- last one St Peter's Field, August 1819- 'Peterloo'

Peterloo

Whole families turned out to hear Hunt speak, brass bands, over 60,000 present, local authorities prepared, yeomanry used swords to clear path to get to Hunt
Inexperienced, eleven people killed and 400 injured
Name was mocking comparison to Waterloo 1815- outcry in press, called 'massacre', attracted sympathy

Six Acts 1819

Banned military style drilling and training, gave magistrates increased powers to search for arms, banned public meetings of over 50 people unless they had magistrate's permission, speeded up trials, imposed further restrictions on press, increased tax on newspapers

Peterloo March 1820

Leaders of St Peter's Field meeting put on trial and imprisoned, Hunt released October 1822

1820s

Trade improved, support for radical politics decreased, govt and property-owning classes determined not to give way to demands for manhood suffrage