Radical Reformers — Key Individuals

Was Paine influential?

Paine was 1 of most influential + colourful radicals of 18th C.

What did Paine welcome?

He welcomed French Rev. 1789, hoping it would lead to democratic system of govt for France.

When was Paine born?

Born in Norfolk 1737

Where did Paine emigrate ?

Paine emigrated to N. America in 1774.

What did Paine publish in 1776?

In 1776, published Common Sense, hugely influential pamphlet that made convincing case for American independence from Britain, + establishment of republican + democratic system of govt for 13 colonies.

When did Paine return to England?

1787

What did Paine publish in England?

He returned to England in 1787, + 1791-92 published several versions of Rights of Man, which became immediate bestseller.

When did Paine flee to France?

He fled to France to escape prosecution in 1792, + returned to USA 1802, where he died in poverty in 1809.

When was statue of Paine made?

In 1964, American supporters presented gilded statue of Paine to his home town of Thetford in Norfolk.

What ideas did Paine oppose?

He strongly opposed Con ideas put forward by Burke in Reflections on the Revolution in France, published 1790, + issued reply in form of the Rights of Man (1791-92)

What did Burke denounce?

Burke's Reflections were powerful denunciation, not only of French revolutionaries, but also of radical ideas that had been developing in Britain for many years.

What did Burke attack?

He attacked speed of change in France, where reformers were attempting to sweep away absolute monarchy of Bourbons + introduce constitutional monarchy within just few months.

What did Burke believe rapid change would lead to?

Burke believed radical + rapid change would only lead to disaster.

What was Burke’s most improtant contribution to debate on the French Revolution?

Burke's most important contribution to debate on French Rev. came with his thoughts on human rights + democracy.

What did reformers believe on human rights?

Reformers believed individuals acquired human rights at time of their birth, + that they were not granted as gift from govt.

What did Burke believe on these rights?

Burke challenged this idea insisting civil + political rights could only be enshrined by law.

What did Burke fear?

Burke also feared democracy, referring to swinish multitude' who could not be trusted to have any rational involvement in politics.

What did Burke’s open opposition to the French Rev. spark?

Burke's open opposition to French Rev. sparked period of vigorous debate between supporters + opponents.

What was the most signifnacnt response ?

Most sig. response, and 1 that caught public imagination, was made by Paine.

What style did Paine write in?

Unlike other pamphleteers, Paine wrote in style that was accessible to most people, not simply educated elite.

What was the most successful attempt to counter Burke’s arguments ?

His Rights of Man (published in 2 parts in 1791-92) was most successful attempt to counter Burke's arguments, + reached large audience in both Britain + France.

What did Evans say on Rights of Man?

The historian Evans acknowledges importance of Paine's work, writing that publication of Rights of Man is perhaps single most important event in history of British radicalism'.

When was part 1 of rights of man?

March 1791

When was part 2 of rights of man?

February 1792

What did Paine reject in part 1 of the rights of man?

In Part 1 of Rights of Man, Paine rejected Burke's claim that civil + political rights were created by govts.

What did Paine argue on rights in part 1?

• He argued that rights bestowed by govts could also be removed, making mockery of idea of fundamental + inalienable rights.

• Instead, he declared, since all men were born equal in sight of God, they must therefore be endowed with same human + political rights.

What did Paine say on hereditary rule in part 1?

• Any system of govt that was based on hereditary rule, such as monarchy + HoL, was thus unnatural + contrary to rights of man.

• For Paine, govt depended not on divine or hereditary right, but consent of all men equally.

What were these arguments in part 1?

Arguments such as these were easy to understand, + explain success of Paine's writings.

What proposal was as equally straightforward?

• Equally straightforward was proposal for wholesale reform of British system of govt, with establishment of republic in which all adult males would have vote.

• Govt. would thus be carried out in interests of all, not just of privileged elite.

What did Paine outline in part 2?

In Part 2 of Rights of Man, Paine outlined comprehensive plan for practical application of theories to British govt + society.

What proposals were made in part 2?

Among proposals were:

• creation of national democratic assembly

• abolition of aristocracy + titles

• establishment of national system of education

• reduction in taxes on poor

• progressive tax to be levied on all land

Were these ideas in part 2 revolutionary?

In many ways, these ideas were more revolutionary than those being promoted across English Channel.

Did the govt. take action against part 1?

The govt didn't take action against Paine over publication of Part 1 of Rights of Man, even though it reached wide audience

In 3 years, how many copies had part 1 sold?

In 3 years after publication it sold some 200,000 copies.

Why were ministers concerned about part 2?

Ministers were concerned, however, that price of Part 2 was within reach of most people, + decided to suppress its incendiary message.

What royal proclamation was made to Paine?

• In 1792, royal proclamation issued against ‘divers [sic] wicked + seditious writings which have been printed, published and industriously dispersed'.

• Many saw proclamation as aimed directly at Paine, who wisely decided to leave Britain for France.

What did Wollstonecraft write?

Wollstonecraft was author of A Vindication of the Rights of Men, written 1790 as 1st counterblast to Burke's Reflections.

What did Wollstonecraft argue?

She argued Burke's support of trad. could be used to justify continued subjection of women + children.

What ideas did Wollstonecraft promote?

She promoted individual rights + importance of family as foundation of society.

What did her writing become a founding tract for?

Wollstonecraft's writings reached wide audience, + Vindication of the Rights of Women became founding tract for later development of groups supporting female suffrage + of women's rights as a whole.

With suppression of LCS & similar organisations, what had British radicalism lost?

• With suppression of LCS + sim. organisations, British radicalism had lost its sole national organisation.

• It proved difficult to fill gap in early 1800s.

What had happened to enthusiasm for parliamentary reform?

Enthusiasm for parl. reform had abated, + parl. was never likely even to consider issues of reform as long as French war continued.

When was British radicalism virtually extinguished?

Leaderless, + without direction, British radicalism virtually extinguished for early years of 19th C.

When did British radicalism pick back up?

From 1812, new life breathed into reform movement from unlikely source.

What did Major John Cartwright publish?

Major John Cartwright, who was in early 70s, possessed radical credentials stretching back to 1770s, when he published his 1st pamphlet calling for universal suffrage.

Who formed the Hampden Clubs?

Major John Cartwright

When were the Hampden Clubs formed?

In 1812, formed Hampden Club in London, named after John Hampden, 1 of leading opponents of Charles I in English CW.

How was membership limited?

The club was exclusive affair: high annual subscription of 2 guineas (£2.10) limited membership to v. small number of middle-class + aristocratic men.

Where did Cartwright tour?

After 1812, Cartwright toured industrial districts in north + Midlands, where he saw 1st hand widespread poverty + poor living conditions that existed in cotton towns.

Due to this tour, what other clubs did Cartwright make?

• He became convinced only remedy for social ills was parl. reform, + from 1816 encouraged creation of regional Hampden Clubs.

• These were diff. from London club.

What was membership of these regional Hampden clubs like?

Membership was open to all who could pay weekly subscription of 1 penny, + frequent meetings took place to discuss national news + to debate political issues.

What gaps did Hampden clubs fill?

In many ways, Hampden Clubs filled gap left by demise of LCS, which had been disbanded in 1794 + formally outlawed by govt in 1799.

When was a plenary meeting?

The rapid growth in popularity of regional Hampden Clubs persuaded Cartwright + others to invite local delegates to plenary meeting in London in 1817 to settle matters of policy.

What was approved at this plenary meeting?

They agreed on universal suffrage + annual parlay, + approved broad strategy of petitioning parl. to intro. reforms.

What did local authorities think on these Hampden clubs?

Although Hampden Clubs worked strictly within law, following Cartwright's maxim to 'hold fast by the laws', local authorities not convinced of clubs' peaceful intentions.

What did many local authorities want to do?

Many local authorities used any excuse, or none, to arrest pol. reformers.

What did spies do in these clubs?

Magistrates in Manchester + surrounding towns employed spies who attended club meetings + filed reports, which usually exaggerated threat posed by radicals.

Who did magistrates arrest?

Acting on reports, magistrates arrested club members, charging them with attending seditious meetings.

When was Bamford arrested?

Bamford + other local leaders were arrested 1817, sent to prison in London, only to be released without charge some months later.

What happened to the effectiveness of Hampden clubs?

Actions such as these, by local and national officials, meant that the Hampden Clubs were unable to act effectively after 1817.

When was Cobbett born?

Cobbett born at Farnham in Surrey in 1763.

When did Cobbett move to USA?

Moved to USA in 1792, where he soon gained reputation as skilled journalist.

What did Cobbett write in the USA?

He wrote many pamphlets against French wars that were widely circulated in USA + Britain.

When did Cobbett return to England?

In 1800 returned to England, where govt offered him some lucrative opportunities as journalist, but he turned these down because he preferred to maintain independence.

What news did Cobbett establish?

He established Cobbett's Political Register, which soon became 1 of leading independent sources of impartial news

By 1805, what was the circulation of the Political Register?

By 1805, Register had circulation of 4.000.

From 1806, what did Cobbett become?

From 1806, Cobbett became increasingly radical in outlook.

When did Cobbett stand for parliament ?

In 1806 he stood for parl. in Honiton, but was not elected.

What did the experience of standing for parliament show Cobbett?

Experience brought home to him just how corrupt British electoral system was, + thereafter began to promote cause of parl. reform.

When did Soldiers mutiny?

In 1809, some soldiers stationed at Ely in Cambridgeshire mutinied because they had not been paid.

What happened to these soldiers?

They were court-martialled + 5 ringleaders sentenced to 500 lashes each.

What did Cobbett publish about these soldiers?

Cobbett published number of articles in successive editions of Register, which vigorously denounced this cruel + inhuman punishment.

What did the govt. use against Cobbett?

Govt. used Cobbett's articles against him.

When was Cobbett imprisoned?

In 1810, was tried for seditious libel against armed forces + sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment.

What did Cobbett do upon release?

He took up journalism once again on his release in 1812, + Political Register continued to flourish.

What did Cobbett want to do in 1816?

In 1816, Cobbett decided to reach much wider audience.

What was the price of the Political Register?

Political Register was v. pop journal, but its cost of 1 shilling, which included newspaper tax, placed it beyond means of working-class readers, who had to club together to purchase copy.

How did Cobbett lower the price?

Cobbett decided to issue single sheet of Register for just 2 pence, which meant paper wouldn’t have to pay high newspaper duty set by govt.

What was the circulation of the first edition of this new publication?

1st edition of new publication, To the Journeymen + Labourers of England, Wales, Scotland + Ireland, was huge success, + by end of 1817, 200,000 copies had been printed + circulated.

What did Cobbett’s opponents label his new venture?

Cobbett's opponents labelled new venture 'two-penny trash', description Cobbett was happy to employ.

When was Cobbett the most influential radical journalist in Britain?

• 1800-20, Cobbett was most influential radical journalist in Britain.

• His writings reached v. wide national audience, + he did much to spread radical ideas among British working class.

When was Hunt coming to the forefront of radical politics?

When Cobbett 1st produced his 2-penny register in 1816, Hunt was coming to forefront of radical politics, using remarkable powers of oratory in addressing meetings throughout country.

Who was Hunt originally?

Hunt was gentleman farmer from Wiltshire.

What did Hunt support in the years to 1800?

In years to 1800, supported political + social outlook of men of his class, giving unqualified support to Pitt's domestic + foreign policies.

When did Hunt’s attitudes change?

His attitudes changed dramatically in 1799-1800, when he was imprisoned for time for defying orders of commander of local militia.

Who did Hunt meet in prison?

While in prison he came into contact with some radicals who had been imprisoned for pol. activities.

What did Hunt write about prison ?

These men + their ideas had profound influence on Hunt; he later wrote in memoirs that his prison term was responsible for converting him wholeheartedly to radical cause.

When did Hunt begin to gain reputation?

By 1810 Hunt had begun to gain reputation as brilliant orator, making powerful speeches at election meetings throughout West Country.

Where did Hunt fail to be elected?

He failed in bid to be elected for Bristol in 1812, + moved to London following year.

What had Hunt established himself as by 1815?

By 1815, had established himself as 1 of most important leaders of British radicalism, thanks in part to his many speeches opposing property taxes + Corn Law of 1815.

Where was Hunt’s influence seen most clearly?

Hunt's influence was seen most clearly at Spa Fields meeting in November 1816.

What had prominent radicals given their support to?

Hitherto prominent radicals, including Cartwright + Cobbett, had given their support to household suffrage as one of their main aims.

What did Hunt propose at Spa Fields?

At Spa Fields, Hunt proposed universal suffrage for the first time at a mass meeting.

What did Hunt note on his speech?

He noted in his memoirs that the effect of his speech was electrifying.

Who did Hunt address in 1819?

In 1819, Hunt accepted invitation to address mass meeting planned for 16 August at St Peter's Fields in Manchester.

What did Hunt insist the St Peter’s Fields meeting would be?

He insisted meeting would be peaceful + tightly organised.

What did Hunt intend to do at the meeting?

Hunt intended to urge meeting to refuse to pay taxes, + to secure parl. reform by the use of 'numerical force (deliberately vague expression).

Why was Hunt arrested?

The magistrates feared Hunt's ability to influence public meetings would lead to violence, + sent in Manchester Yeomanry to arrest him.

What was Hunt charged with?

He was charged with promoting a seditious conspiracy, + in 1820 he was jailed for 2 and a 1/2 years.

Who can the growth of British radicalism in early 19th century be credited to?

Much of credit for growth of British radicalism in early 19th century must go to both Cobbett + Hunt.