Anti-Corn law league

Question 1

What were the Corn Laws?

Answer 1

• During war with France in early 1800s, trading stopped, and so wheat prices rose
• After war, Government passed corn laws in 1815 which effectively kept corn prices high, as wealthy landowners profited

Question 2

People involved in movement

Answer 2

• Mainly middle class men
• Richard Cobden and John Bright

Question 3

What did Cobden and Bright do?

Answer 3

• Toured the country, giving speeches and spreading support for the league
• Made pamphlets and published articles in Newspapers

Question 4

Methods of Leaguers

Answer 4

• Used trains to get around country quickly to do more speeches
• Used penny post to send pamphlets to every eligible voter in country

Question 5

Main arguments of Leaguers

Answer 5

• Laws were unfair as they increased price of basic food (bread)
• Cheap wheat could help lower living costs
• If people had more money to spare, they could spend it on meat, helping farmers, or industrial goods, helping manufacturers

Question 6

What happened in 1841

Answer 6

• Cobden and peel became MPs

Question 7

What happened in 1843

Answer 7

• New prime minister, Robert peel, came into power

Question 8

Robert Peel beliefs

Answer 8

• Supported free trade
• Agreed with repealing Corn Laws
  -however, his party (Conservative Party) didn’t agree as they benefitted form corn laws

Question 9

What happened in 1846

Answer 9

• Robert peel repealed corn laws
  -Influenced by crop failures all over Britain

Question 10

Impact of repeal

Answer 10

• Made wheat affordable for the poor
• Meat, barley and oats costs increased
• challenging of the landowning class led to more protection of working class in future