Radical reformers, c1790–1819

'Reflections on the revolution in France'

November 1790 - Edmund Burke wrote that gov derived its authority from custom and tradition, not from the people

'The Rights of Man'

1791 - Thomas Paine. Was a response to Burke where he applauded the changes taking place in France and wrote that Burke 'pities the plumage but forgets the dying bird'. He opposed the aristocratic rule, railed against unearned privilege and inherited wealth, wanted reform to benefit the working class, called for universal manhood suffrage.

Copies of the Rights of Man

200,000 copies of Part II of his book were sold within a year - political debate no longer limited to the aristocracy

London Corresponding Society

1792 - led by Thomas Hardy advocating for universal manhood suffrage, secret ballot and payment of MPs. Members skilled working men, craftsmen and small traders. Corresponded with groups in France. Peak of 5000 members

Britons horrified by execution of Louis XVI

'loyalist' associations were formed, attracting vast support and had gov backing.

War with France 1793

Caused many to view the radicals a traitors, revival of patriotism

41 radicals including Thomas Hardy were arrested and charged with high treason (once Hardy was acquitted further trials were abandoned)

1794

By the end of 1795 radicalism was largely silenced

Fewer than 200 convicted in 1790s

Radical threat heightened in 1795

Due to harvest failure, food shortages and high prices

Luddism

1810-11 reports of men attacking factories and mills by night (industrial towns). Fear of their jobs (mostly skilled men who still used traditional machinery) being replaced by new machinery. Named 'Luddites' after Ned Ludd who encouraged them. Machine breaking made a capital offence.

End of War in 1815

Britain victorious but the war was very expensive, had to increase taxes in order to pay for the war which mainly taxed aristocracy, but government wanted to change it to target the working class

Unemployment from war

300,000 men returned from war looking for work. Industries such as coal, textile and engineering found that government contracts dried up and so more workers were laid off.

Corn Laws of 1815

Prohibits the importation of foreign grain. This makes domestic grain more expesive and in turn makes the aristocracy richer, while the poor who have to pay for higher grain now, get poorer. This law sparks mass protests among lower classes

Political Register

William Cobbet - circulation of 40,000 to working class readers - attacked the government in many ways (mainly people who benefitted economically from the government - 'fundholders' and called them 'parasites' and 'taxeaters') He accused the governing classes of being lazy in comparison to the others. Had an enthusiastic response mainly due to the poor harvest of 1816-17 (bad winter)

Hampden Club

1812 - formed by Cartwright (and others) in order to agitate for what was called a 'general suffrage'. Set up across the country and open to any man able to pay 1d a week subscription. Organised a petitioning campaign (strongest support in Lancashire)

Henry Hunt

Became known as Orator Hunt (fiery speeches) and became an idol to the working class. Went to huge outdoor meetings and gave memorable speeches 'mass platform'. Did not want riots.

Spa Fields meeting

1816 - huge meeting (10,000), Henry Hunt due to address the crowd, thousands arrived, like a carnival, before Hunt arrived a small section of the crowd rioted (however the majority were peaceful and loyal - thousands participated in the singing of the national anthem). When Hunt arrived, he called for lower taxes and the reform of Parliament

Parliament received over 700 petitions, some signed by thousands

1817

Gagging Acts

1817 - Treason and Seditious Meeting Acts permanently made into law, habeas corpus suspended again - still didn't stop large meetings so government had to use spies (agents provocateurs) - most famous spy just known as 'Oliver'

Pentridge Rising

June 1817- about 200 men with pikes, forks and a few guns set up from Pentridge in Derbyshire to march to Nottingham where they were met by troops and rounded up. Following a trial their leaders were hanged and 30 were transported (sent to a penal colony in Australia)

Peterloo Massacre

August 1819 - 4 big meetings were planned as a demonstration of radical, working class strength (the last one to take place in St Peter's Field, Manchester in August). The yeomanry were called up and professional troops put on stand-by. Tried to arrest Henry Hunt but as the yeomanry tried to reach him, the crowd closed ranks to stop them. Some of the yeomanry used there swords to get past and troops were called in.

Number of people present at Peterloo

60,000

Number of people injured at Peterloo

11 killed, 400 injured (possibly to do with the inexperience, and possible drunkenness, of the yeomanry)

Six Acts

1819 - aimed to prevent radical meetings, like the one that sparked the Peterloo Massacre. It called such meetings The laws passed, despite opposition from the Whigs.

Six Acts (ACTS) 1819

Unlawful Drilling Act, Seizure of Arms Act, Seditious Meetings Prevention Act, Misdemeanours Act, Criminal Libel Act, Newspapers and Stamp Duties Act

Leaders of St Peters field meeting were put on trial and imprisoned. Hunt released in Oct 22 - peoples support for radical support subsided

March 1820

Suspension of habeas corpus

1794-1795 - allowed arrests without trial - allowed the government to round up potential threats due to fears about the popular protests.

Treason Act and Seditious Meetings Act

1795 - extended the idea of treason to include ideas that were written or spoken (outlawed work of Thomas Paine and protest pamphlets). Banned public meetings for over 50 people and it made it illegal to rent a hall for lecturing and debating policies without a magistrate's license. It also gave JoP the authority to disperse any crowd.

Combination Act

1799 - banned the existence of any trade union or political society which promoted political reform (LCA illegal)

Stamp Tax

1797 - increased to make newspapers harder to afford.

Newspaper Regulation Act

1798 - forced newspapers to register with the aim of limiting their ability to publish critical articles.

Poor Employment Act

1817 - was inadequate for the scale of economic problems. The government ignored requests for financial relief in the poorest areas

Government took action against Paine

1792 - so he moved to France

John Cartwright

Created Hampden Club in London - wanted to unite middle-class moderates and working-class radicals. Arrested in 1813.

Manchester Hampden Club

1819 - formed the Patriotic Union Society and organised the St Peter's Field meeting.

Limitation of Hampden Clubs

Divide between those who wanted universal suffrage and those who wanted extended suffrage for those with property - but they did spread political ideas.

William Cobbet

Not radical, but wanted to return Britain to a more harmonious place.