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RADICAL REFORMERS 1790-1819 - Coggle Diagram
RADICAL REFORMERS 1790-1819
FRENCH REVOLUTION
EDMUND BURKE
Wrote 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' 1790
Believed in hereditary monarchy and importance of aristocracy
Attacked speed of change in France
Civil and Political rights can only be enshrined in law
Feared democracy
THOMAS PAINE
Wrote 'Rights of Man' 1791 - sold
250,000 copies in 1 year
Opposed rule by aristocracy
'Puppet show; of hereditary monarchy and aristocracy
Free education and pensions
Universal manhood suffrage
GROUPS
LONDON CORRESPONDING SOCIETY 1792-93
Founded by Thomas Hardy and was supported by skilled craftsmen
Universal suffrage and annual parliaments
Promotion of political education - pamphlet Nov 1792 'Address of LCS and other Societies
Peaceful methods
All classes
Pitt believed it could become a military body - gov spies reported they acted within the law
SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION 1780
Founded by Major Cartwright
Promoted social and political reform
Members middle class
Did not want to become too radical - more political
Members started to join other groups - ended 1795
Influenced LCS
RESPONSE BY GOV
Trial of leaders of LCS + suspension of Haebus Corpus 1794
Gov saw one of the meetings as potentially subversive - sent troops to arrest them
Attempted charged leaders with high treason - all acquitted
Although
membership was only 5000
, their ideas of reform were spreading
Treason Act and Seditious Meetings Act 1795
Treason Act - offence to kill or harm the King, and any attempt to intimidate the Houses of Parliament
Seditious Meetings -
meetings can only be 50 people
1815
Increase taxes Borrowed money - raise taxes to pay interest then debt
80% gov income went to interest on loans
300,000 men
unemployed came back from war
Corn Laws
Indirect taxes - made higher percentage of income spent on goods
War of the Unstamped
WHY
Stamp Tax first impose d in early 1700s, increased until 1815 when it was
4d per copy
Newspaper and Stamp Duties of 1819 re-defined newspaper as any paper product
Increased taxes
WAR
Saw nearly 800 arrested
Conflict between 'free knowledge' and the Whig government
1834, Stamp Duty reduced to 1d
Taxes abolished 1860 under Gladstone
LED TO MORAL CHARTISM
SPA FIELDS 1816
London 1816,
10,000 people
- largest since 1780
Henry 'Orator; Hunt supposed to speak
Spencean Revolutionaries (and agent provocateurs - Castle) agitated the crowd
Attempted march on the Tower of London with vandalism and looting
Leaders arrested then executed
Leeds Mercury Newspaper (strong supporter of Radical activity) condemned the violence
PENTRIDGE 1817
Derbyshire 1817,
300 people
Oliver (spy) - encouraged men to take over Nottingham, stating that other demonstrations occurred across the country
80 arrested 14 transported and 3 hanged
PETERLOO 1819
St Peter's Fields, Manchester,
80,000
Yeomanry tried to Arrest Henry Hunt but the crowd surrounded him
Yeomanry charged the crowd -
11 dead 500 injured
GOV RESPONSE
Gagging Acts 1817
Treason Act and Seditious Meetings Act
Six Acts 1819
Magistrates can enter property when suspicious of radical activity
Transportation as punishment for rebellious writings
More publications had to pay stamp duty
REASONS FOR FAILURE
DEMANDS TOO RADICAL
Universal male suffrage when only
10% of male population could vote
Annual parliaments do not even exist now
GOV LEGISLATION
GOV SPY NETWOR
K
FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP
No central leader, Limited organisation BUT Henry Hunt, Major Cartwright (Hampden Clubs)
FRENCH REV
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Economy grew
Cobbett said 'You cannot agitate a man on a full stomach"