Pitt's responses to the French Revolution and the problems in Ireland Flashcards
What is Pitt’s reign of terror?
- view that Pitt over-reacted to radicalism in Britain
- radicals more ‘noisy’ than ‘dangerous’
- measures largely successful but led to long-term damage to British liberties.
After the war, how much of the country was against radicalism? What was the effect of the war on public opinion?
- it united them
- 1/2
How is Pitt’s legislation towards radicalism seen?
an attack on radicalism
What did Pitt use to convince the public against radicalism?
- propaganda
- ‘pro-government’ newspapers
What did loyalist associations use? What is controversial about this?
- propaganda
- intimidation
- loyalism was more popular than radicalism, so it was unnecessary
What were the royal proclamations of 1792 against? What did this allow the Home Office to do?
- seditious writing
- Home Office could monitor radicals, using spies
Who were arrested in 1794? What was the outcome of this?
- 4 radical leaders, including Thomas Hardy
- acquitted
What was suspended in 1975? What was the reality of this? How was it really used?
- Habeas Corpus’s right to a fair trial
- only a few were imprisoned under this
- effective deterrent
What two acts were passed in 1795? What was a drawback to this?
- Treasonable Practices Act: cannot speak against the King
- Seditious Meetings Act: stop meetings
- hard to enforce
What act was passed in 1797?
Unlawful Oaths Act
- strengthened penalties against radicals
What were the Combination Acts? When were they passed? What was a drawback of this?
- banned LCS, United Irishmen and any association of working men
- made strike action punishable by law
- 1799 and 1800
- magistrates turned a blind eye to strike action unless it included violence and LCS continued to grow
What was the United Irishmen? Who founded it?
What was its aims?
- founded by Wolfe Tone in 1791
- consisted of protestants, Catholics and Presbyterians
- aimed to unite all Irish people
- aimed for separatism from Britain
- aimed for parliamentary reform - equal franchise
What is the Aliens Act?
- passed to stop French agents from coming into Britain
- to stop spread of ideology of FR
What were Agent Provocateurs?
spies who stirred up trouble among the working class and societies to find radical ring leaders
Why did the reform movement collapse?
the strength of the government’s reforms and the government’s ability to enlist the support of landowners (had political power as they were among the upper class)
