Pitt’s reign of terror

why were the 1790s called Pitts reign of terror

passed many laws to increase state power to deal with radicals

when were the royal proclamations and what did it mean

• 1792-reaction to rights of man by Paine. called by George III

• Called magistrates to search authors, publishers and distributors of seditious writing.

• eg, Richard Phillip jailed 1 1/2 year for selling Paine book -arguably exaggerated to gain propertied support

when were the two acts/gagging acts and what did they do?

• 1795 response to Copenhagen meeting and kings coach 3 days later.

• the seditious meetings act- prohibiting meetings of over 50 without magistrates consent

• treasonable practices act-tightened laws as those who wrote/spoke against the constitution=treason (200 prosecutions for treason)

When was the Combination Act passed? what did it mean

• 1799

• abolished trade unions as banned the combination of men as gov saw them as centre of unrest. (please the upper classes/consolidate support)

when was habeas corpus suspended and why? who opposed?

• 1794-95. easier for govt to arrest radicals.

• fox disagreed and forced commons to vote 14 times

How did the gov further suppress societies?

• 1799

• Act for the More Effective Suppression of societies established for seditious and treasonable purposes

What happened to Thomas Hardy?

• tried for imagining the kings death

• acquitted by jury