In depth information on Liverpool's choice of dealing with the issues highlighted by protestors that he faced included his repressive reforms and the liberal Tory reforms.
At the end of the Napoleonic war Britain faced serious economic and social problems, in
times of rapid industrial change politicians hadn’t had experience in dealing with such
situations.
The main reasons for discontent among people were low Wages, unemployment, poor living
and working conditions and the fact they had no right to vote. Protests occurred in frequent
intervals during the period 1812-1820 particularly when prices were high.
Radicles saw political and constitutional reform to bring about a solution to social and
economic problems. Whereas politicians saw their role as maintaining peace not to improve
the social conditions of the people.
The General radicle activity in this period:
No desire for revolution at this point but high demand for reform.
Hampden clubs were founded in1812 by Major John Cartwright and radicle MP Sir
Francis Burdett.
Discussed parliamentary reform and spread political ideas within the labouring
classes.
700 petitions for the reform of parliament presented to the government in 1817.
Union clubs formed by working men following example of Hampden clubs.
It is important to note that the mass wasn’t revolutionary however there were some groups
who hoped for some sort of revolution.
Rather than reforming Liverpool chose to introduce repressive policies.
Why?
Fear of revolution conscious he didn’t have a standing army.
Didn’t know how to implement reform.
Didn’t see economic problems as something to be interfered with (laisse faire
mindset)
Trade was cynical.
Difficult for government to distinguish between causes of reform of revolution.
A closer look at Liverpool’s repressive policy
How long did the suspension of habus corpus last and how widely was it used?
The suspension lasted between 1816 and 1818 so two years and a very small amount were
held under its terms and were released after its repeal.
What was the seditious meetings act 1817?
Forbid the unlawful assembly of more than 50 people and imposed the death penalty for
mutiny in the armed forces.
The six acts December 1819:
- Restrict the activity of the radicle press.
- An attack on any possible threat to the state.
- Restricting radicle activity by outlawing large scale protest meetings.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller hannahfrance. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £6.79. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
