4. Growth of Reform before 1832

Question 1

What are the 4 sections for this plan?

Answer 1

1. Radical Societies and New Middle Class
2. Riots and Unrest
3. Parliaments unwillingness to change
4. Thomas Paine and French Revolution

Question 2

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

How many daily and tri-weekly newspapers were there in London during this time?

Answer 2

London had 13 daily newspapers and 10 tri-weekly newspapers.

Question 3

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

What were the names of the two societies set up in 1780 that gained members from the ‘respectable classes’?

Answer 3

The two societies were the ‘Yorkshire Association’ and the ‘Society for Constitutional Information’.

Question 4

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

Who founded the London Corresponding Society (LCS) and how many members did they claim to have in the early 1790s?

Answer 4

The London Corresponding Society (LCS) was founded by Thomas Hardy. He claimed there were 5000 members in the early 1790s, but it was probably closer to 1000.

Question 5

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

What types of people were members of the London Corresponding Society (LCS)?

Answer 5

The members of the London Corresponding Society (LCS) were mostly artisans and tradesmen, but also included booksellers, printers, and authors.

Question 6

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

What was the significance of the demonstration at Copenhagen Fields in October 1795?

Answer 6

The demonstration at Copenhagen Fields attracted over 100,000 people, showing the widespread support and influence of the London Corresponding Society (LCS).

Question 7

Radical Societies and New Middle Class

How did the Sheffield Society for Constitutional Information contribute to the cause?

Answer 7

The Sheffield Society for Constitutional Information was formed in 1791 and managed to raise almost 10,000 signatures on a national petition calling for male suffrage.

Question 8

Riots and Unrest

What was the plan drawn up by Francis Place during the Days of May riots in 1832?

Answer 8

The plan was to withdraw money from banks to trigger a banking crisis.

Question 9

Riots and Unrest

What were the plans discussed during the Days of May riots in 1832 which would have harmed the Duke?

Answer 9

‘to stop the duke go for gold’ - plans to stop paying taxes

Question 10

Riots and Unrest

How many people were attracted to the demonstrations organised by the BPU during the Days of May riots in 1832?

Answer 10

200,000 people were attracted to the demonstrations.

Question 11

Riots and Unrest

Where did the Swing Riots of 1830-31 initially start?

Answer 11

The Swing Riots initially started in Kent.

Question 12

Riots and Unrest

How many counties did the Swing Riots of 1830-31 spread to?

Answer 12

The Swing Riots spread to 20 counties.

Question 13

Riots and Unrest

What were the main activities involved in the Swing Riots of 1830-31?

Answer 13

The main activities involved machine breaking, arson, assaults on landlords, and strikes.

Question 14

Riots and Unrest

What were the demands made in the petitions sent to parliament during the Swing Riots of 1830-31?

Answer 14

The petitions demanded tax reductions in rural areas.

Question 15

Riots and Unrest

What was the fear expressed by the participants of the Swing Riots of 1830-31?

Answer 15

The participants feared that paternalism, which is the hierarchy of traditions, was breaking down.

Question 16

Riots and Unrest

How much damage was caused by the Swing Riots of 1830-31 in terms of riot and arson?

Answer 16

The riots caused £600 worth of damage, and the arson caused £100,000 worth of damage.

Question 17

Riots and Unrest

How many people were sentenced to death and how many were transported as a result of the Swing Riots of 1830-31?

Answer 17

252 people were sentenced to death, and 505 people were transported.

Question 18

Riots and Unrest

How many unions were there across the country during the time of the riots and unrest?

Answer 18

There were over 100 unions across the country.

Question 19

Riots and Unrest

What was the distribution of unions across the North and Midlands?

Answer 19

Approximately 1/3 of the unions were in the North, 1/3 were in the Midlands.

Question 20

Riots and Unrest

What was the name of the national union during the time of the riots and unrest?

Answer 20

The national union was called the National Union of the Working Class (NUWC).

Question 21

Parliaments unwillingness to change

Who defended the status quo and argued that moderate reform would lead to violence?

Answer 21

Edmund Burke

Question 22

Parliaments unwillingness to change

Who resisted all attempts at reform?

Answer 22

Lord Liverpool

Question 23

Parliaments unwillingness to change

Who said, “I was unwilling to open a door which I saw no prospect of being able to close”?

Answer 23

Robert Peel

Question 24

Parliaments unwillingness to change

In what year did William Pitt embark on his “Reign of Terror”?

Answer 24

1793

Question 25

Parliaments unwillingness to change

What charges was Rev. Thomas Palmer sentenced for?

Answer 25

Encouraging others to read ‘The Rights of Man’

Question 26

Parliaments unwillingness to change

How long was Rev. Thomas Palmer sentenced to?

Answer 26

7 years transportation

Question 27

Parliaments unwillingness to change

What legislation was enacted to support William Pitt’s actions?

Answer 27

The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended in 1784, allowing individuals to be held indefinitely.

Question 28

Parliaments unwillingness to change

In what year was the Treasonable and Seditious Practices Act passed?

Answer 28

1795

Question 29

Parliaments unwillingness to change

What did the Seditious Meetings Act ban?

Answer 29

Meetings of over 50 reformers.

Question 30

Parliaments unwillingness to change

What was the stance of the Whigs on reform?

Answer 30

They supported moderate reform but believed it should be careful and controlled, with concessions to the middle class. They did not want to see the middle class link with the working class as had happened in France.

Question 31

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

When was Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’ written and whose book was it a response to?

Answer 31

Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’ was written between 1791 and 1792 and it was a response to Burke’s book.

Question 32

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

What conservative ideas did Paine reject in ‘Rights of Man’?

Answer 32

Paine rejected the conservative ideas that societies developed from their past. He argued that this was the time to establish a new political system and questioned monarchy, nobility, and the established Church.

Question 33

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

How many copies of ‘Rights of Man’ had been sold by 1783?

Answer 33

By 1783, 200,000 copies of ‘Rights of Man’ had been sold.

Question 34

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

Why did Thomas Paine flee to France in 1792?

Answer 34

Thomas Paine was charged with treason and he fled to France in 1792. His ideas were never taken up by societies.

Question 35

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

What inspired Thomas Paine’s work during his time in France?

Answer 35

Thomas Paine’s work was inspired by the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which he witnessed during his time in France.

Question 36

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

Why did the Storming of the Bastille take place?

Answer 36

The Storming of the Bastille took place due to resentment towards the ruling class and nobility. The cost of living had risen, and the working class was struggling as they had to spend 90% of their wages on basic necessities.

Question 37

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

How many people stormed the Bastille and what did they do?

Answer 37

633 people stormed the Bastille, which was a symbol of the King. They released prisoners, stole munitions, and destroyed the fortress. Unfortunately, 104 people were killed during the event.

Question 38

Thomas Paine and French Revolution

How long did the string of revolutions sparked by the Storming of the Bastille last?

Answer 38

The string of revolutions sparked by the Storming of the Bastille lasted for 10 years, until 1799.