Radical Reformers Flashcards
(20 cards)
1
Q
Thomas Paine
A
• ‘the rights of man’ 1791
• applauded changes taking part in France
• advocated sweeping reforms to improve lives of w/c
• called for universal manhood suffrage
2
Q
Who was Edmund Burke?
A
- published reflections on the revolution of France
- appalled by violence
- celebrated rule by monarchy and aristocracy, felt its overthrow would lead to anarchy seen in france
3
Q
What was the London Corresponding Society? (LCS)
A
- formed 1792, led by Thomas Hardy
- called for universal suffrage, secret ballot and payment of MP’s
- most members skilled working men, craftsmen and small traders
- weekly meetings, peaceful
4
Q
What was the loyalist backlash to the radical reformers?
A
- property classes sprang to defence of existing system
- many Britons feared a revolution similar to France
- ‘loyalist’ associations backed by government
- formed to spread anti france and anti radical propaganda
5
Q
What was the government response to the early radical reformers?
A
- 1792, proclamations against seditious writings were issued
- 41 radicals and Thomas Hardy arrested
- Habeas Corpus suspended, enabled detainment without trial
- 1795, treasonable practices and seditious meetings acts passed which aimed to intimidate
6
Q
Why did the early radical threat decline?
A
- new government policies did not need to be used but acted as an effective threat
- enabled authorities to intimidate, arrest leaders and silence propaganda
- break out of war vs france 1793 led to patriotic feeling, radicals viewed as traitors
- loyalist associations greatly outnumbered the LCS
7
Q
What was Luddhism?
A
- men with blackened faces attacking factories and mills by night
- occurred in industrial towns like Nottingham
- attacks on mills with new machinery that had replaced skilled workers
8
Q
How did the government respond to the Luddites?
A
- thousands of troops stationed in areas of threat
- machine breaking made capital offence
- Luddite threat fizzled out
9
Q
How did the war with France impact Britons?
A
- taxes increased to finance war
- government borrowed lots of money, raised taxes to pay interest on loans
- parliament introduced new indirect taxes on everyday items such as sugar which had a regressive impact
- unemployment increased as 300,000 men returned from fighting
10
Q
What were the corn laws? (1815)
A
- landowners who dominated parliament called for ban on foreign wheat
- claimed Britain needed to be self sufficient incase of war and rising population
- governments opponents saw it as ‘class legislation’
- accused parliament of passing law to benefit landowners
11
Q
Who was William Cobbett?
A
- William Cobbett produced a weekly political register
- published for 2d and read by thousands
- said working class starved so the rich could live in luxury
- after harsh winter led to poor harvests and inflated prices the popularity of the political register rose massively
12
Q
What was the Hampden club?
A
- Hampden club founded in 1912
- open to any man able to pay 1d a week subscription
- organised petitioning campaigns
- demanded reform of parliament, end to corn laws and fairer taxes
13
Q
Who was Henry Hunt?
A
- known as orator Hunt due to his fiery speeches such as Peterloo
- folk hero to w/c
- believed well organised, orderly and peaceful demonstrations were the correct method
- became MP for Preston in 1830
14
Q
What happened at the Spa fields meeting? (1816)
A
- Henry Hunt due to address crowd of 10,000
- carnival atmosphere, families from all areas
- before Hunt arrived small section of crowd rioted, broke into gun shops, seized weapons and marched towards Tower of London
- majority of crowd remained peaceful
15
Q
What were the gagging acts?
A
- suspension of habeas corpus
- illegal to hold a meeting of more than 50 people
16
Q
What happened during the Pentridge rising? (1817)
A
- government spy oliver infiltrated group of workers in Derbyshire
- persuaded them to march on Nottingham to start a nationwide rebellion
- 200 men met by troops
- leaders were hanged and 30 transported
17
Q
What was planned at Peter’s field Manchester? (1819)
A
- meeting to demonstrate radical, working class strength
- over 60,000 attended
- addressed by orator Hunt
- families turned up in Sunday best
18
Q
How did the local authorities respond to Henry Hunt at Peterloo?
A
- The yeomen, a voluntary cavalry force, tried to arrest Henry Hunt
- some said yeomen were drunk
- 11 killed and 400 injured
- Henry Hunt arrested
19
Q
What were the six acts?
A
- banned military style drilling and training
- gave magistrates increased powers to search for arms
- banned public meetings of over 50 unless permitted by magistrate
- sped up trials
- further restrictions on press
- increased tax and stamp duty to price working class out of newspapers
20
Q
Who was John Tyas?
A
- times reporter
- attended ‘peterloo’
- arrested alongside Henry Hunt
- heavily critical of the authorities at peters field
