7th lecture on 19th century Britain. Tthe beginnings of change in the British political system the Peterloo massacre, the Corn Laws and the 1832 act

1. Politics
The Need for Change
Dr Sayah

2. What we will learn today:
Progress of British political
institutions
Resistance to political change
The Chartist movement in political
reform

3. Political Background
1275 Edward I needed money so
called a meeting of Parliament
5 groups of representatives :
1 & 2 prelates (bishops and abbots) &
magnates (earls and barons);
3, 4 & 5 inferior clergy, knights and
citizens.
representatives agreed people should
pay the king a tax

4. Political Background
groups 3, 4 and 5 (the commons) were
sent home to persuade people pay taxes.
King discussed laws with bishops,
abbots, earls and barons (the lords).
Parliament called when king needed
money.
Edward III: in 1341 Commons met
separately from nobility and clergy for
the first time, creating an Upper
Chamber and a Lower Chamber

6. Political Background
1547 Henry VIII used parliament during
reformation
Enhanced importance of Parliament
Balance of power in favour of Commons
HOWEVER
Only males owning property worth 40
shillings could vote.
Only males with annual income of £600
could be elected

9. Before the 19th century
Britain was not a democracy
Most politicians did not support
democratic values.
Voting was not seen as a universal
right but as a privilege for the
wealthiest class of society

11. Until 1832
The right to vote depended on three
things:
Gender. Only men over the age of 21
were allowed to vote.
Property. In order to vote, an individual
had to own property over a certain value.
Location. Small rural boroughs were able
to elect more MPs than much larger
towns and counties.

12. Domination of Aristocracy
The universal right to vote had little
support in Parliament, which was
dominated by the aristocratic landowners.
Only people with "a stake in the country",
ie paying taxes and holding property take
part in politics.
Ordinary people, the poor and the working
classes, had no voice in Parliament

14. The Beginnings of Change
The French Revolution of 1789 caused
interest in ideas of democratic government
across Europe.
These ideas inspired many groups in Britain
to demand a more open and genuine
democracy within their own country.
The ruling classes in Britain watched with
fear the bloodshed that went hand-in-hand
with greater democracy in France.

15. Britain’s Transformation
The population was growing fast,
New working and living conditions (country
and city) after the agricultural and
industrial revolutions.
More food, better clothing, more goods to
buy.
But, sufferance in filthy slums of cities and
harsh treatment in factory work.

16. New Political Ideas
Political ideas spread more rapidly
thanks to:
The concentration of people in towns
and cities;
The development of railways; and
The development of national
newspapers.

17. Rise of Discontent
 Economic difficulties following wars
with France (1803-1815) & Corn Laws
 HUGE debt from the war
 Fall in demand for manufactured goods
 Many factories closed
 Unemployment + 300,000 soldiers in need of
work
 The Corn Laws: caused a rise of corn
prices

18. The Corn Laws

19. The Corn Laws
 Imported corn taxed and restricted
 People become angry (They have to eat don’t
they?)
 The bourgeoisie did not like the corn laws
because:
 Increased food prices -> demand for higher
wages, made labor more expensive
 Slowed down the development of free trade

20. The Peterloo Massacre
Strikes and mass meetings were common
In August 1819, a demonstration against
the Corn Laws and a push for universal
suffrage was organized in Manchester
was planned to be peaceful: no weapons
allowed, and demonstrators instructed
to ‘wear their best clothes’

22. The Peterloo Massacre
A vast crowd gathered faced by
yeomanry collected by local magistrates.
Orator Hunt started to speak but was
arrested
General chaos after yeomanry ordered
to charge the crowd.
11 people killed, including 2 women and a
child. Over 400 people were injured

23. The Six Acts
These acts intended to:
Control private use and detention of
weapons
Restrict public meetings
Increase tax on printed matter,
including newspapers, periodicals and
pamphlets.
Overall, the government wants to
reduce the chances of citizens
turning against the government

24. Forced to Change
Reformers: British Parliament no
longer represented the country: it
had to change, or be forced to do
so.
Politicians: limited political reforms
rather than risk a revolution.
1832 Act

26. Limited reform
The effects of act very limited:
Only a tiny percentage of British men
could vote in elections.
 Gives middle class suffrage
Unfair geographical representation,
 southern England more MPs ->better represented
than Scotland or new industrial towns north of
England.
Working class disappointed “the Betrayal
Reform”

31. What about a quiz?

32. Which Monarch called the
1st meeting of Parliament?
A. Victoria
B. Edward I
C. Henry VIII
D. Edward III
Q1

33. What contributed to the rise of
political awareness?
Tick the wrong alternative
A. Concentration of people in towns and
cities.
B. Development of transport.
C. Spread of Bolshevik Revolution ideals.
D. Development of national newspapers.
Q2

34. Main Reasons for economic crisis in
early 19th century did not include
A. War indebtedness
B. Rise of unemployment
C. Decline in consumption
D. Taxes on printed material
Q3

35. A. They imposed taxes and restrictions on
imported corn
B. Both bourgeoisie and working class opposed
the Corn laws
C. They affected prices of all grains and food in
general
D. All of the above
Which statement (s) about the
Corn Laws is right?
Q4

36. A. demonstrators were against the Corn
Laws
B. demonstrators were armed and ready to
charge
C. Women were asking their right to vote
D. Demonstrators were instructed to wear
their factory uniforms
During the Peterloo Protest
Q5

37. A. The crowd attacked soldiers
B. Demonstrators were killed.
C. Orator Hunt was arrested
D. Soldiers charged the crowd.
Tick the wrong statement about
the Peterloo Massacre
Q6

38. A. Victims were indemnified
B. Families of victims were heard in
Parliament
C. Repression of freedom of expression
intensified
D. All of the above
Official reaction to
the Peterloo Massacre:Q7

39. A- Control private use and detention of
weapons
B- Restrict public meetings
C- Universal suffrage
D- Increase tax on newspapers and
pamphlets
The purpose of the Six Acts
did not include
Q8

40. A. Lowered property requirements for the
right to vote.
B. Reflects resistance to working class
protests
C. Politicians feared a bloody revolution as in
France
D. Gave the voting right to limited number
from working class
The 1832 ACTQ9

41. Before and after the 1832 Act
Q10
A. 1/12 ►►► 1/6 (adult male could vote)
B. 1/6 ►►► 1/12 (adult male could vote)
C. 1/10 ►►► 5/6 (adult male could vote)
D. 1/12 ►►► 1/5 (adult male could vote)

42. TO BE CONTINUED …