Slide 1

Transcript Slide 1

Liverpool 1812 - 21

How did Liverpool stay in power for so long?

• • • • • Personality and leadership A strong Cabinet Support of the king Luck Experience

• Liverpool and luck • • • • • His election was by a small minority Lack of a credible opponent Opposition was divided Whigs divided The political system worked in his favour – easy to hold onto power

Liverpool and experience • • • Very experience politician A skilful politician used to hold the cabinet together Cabinet had a wide range of political views

• Liverpool and royal support • • • A strong relationship with the King King was suspicious of the Whigs Developed the principle of collective registration

• How did Liverpool deal with the radical threat 1815 – 21?

• • • The Six Acts Suspension of Habeas Corpus Seditious Meetings Act

•

What were the Six Acts

• (1) Training Prevention Act A measure which made any person attending a gathering for the purpose of training or drilling liable to arrest. People found guilty of this offence could be transportated for seven years. (2) Seizure of Arms Act A measure that gave power to local magistrates to search any property or person for arms.

(3) Seditious Meetings Prevention Act A measure which prohibited the holding of public meetings of more than fifty people without the consent of a sheriff or magistrate. (4) The Misdemeanours Act A measure that attempted to reduce the delay in the administration of justice. (5) The Basphemous and Seditious Libels Act A measure which provided much stronger punishments, including banishment for publications judged to be blaspemous or sedtious. (6) Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act A measure which subjected certain radical publications which had previously avoided stamp duty by publishing opinion and not news, to such duty.

• What were the key radical protests 1815 21 • • • • • • Spa Fields Meeting The Spenceans and Hunt March of the Blanketeers The Pentrich Rebellion The Peterloo Massacre The Cato Street Conspiracy

• What was Spa Fields • • • • • A mass meeting On of the first held Held on 15 Nov 1816 Organised by the Spencean Henry Hunt was the main speaker

• Who were the Spenceans and who was Henry Hunt?

• Spenceans supported revolution – Not sure it revolution should be organised or spontaneous.

• Henry Hunt – radical speaker who wanted reform not revolution.

The march of the Blanketeers • March 1817 William Benbow organised a hunger march from St Peters field Manchester to London – Wanted to present a petition to the Prince Regent asking him to relieve distress in the textile industry – 4500 marched, local magistrates declared it seditious and it was dispersed.

– 300 set out on the march one person was killed

• The Pentrich Rebellion • • • An attempt by the northern working class to take over the north and then march on London.

A government spy – Oliver the spy – exposed them Only two attempts at uprisings one in Huddersfield one in Nottingham.

• The Peterloo Massacre • • • • St Peters Field Manchester Jan 1819 Henry Hunt due to speak magistrates tried to prevent him Yeomanry could not arrest Hunt Army called in – panic and stampede- 11 protestors die 400 injured.

• The Cato Street Conspiracy • • • • • • Organised by Spenceans Most extreme and radical group of the time Plan to assassinate Liverpool and is cabinet on 22 Feb 1820 Plan was to paralyse the capital and spread unrest across the country Discovered by George the Spy 4 tried and executed 5 others transported for life.

• What debates is there about Radicalism between 1815 – 1821?

1. Britain was close to revolution due to the mass unrest and protest seen in the country 2. The threat was exaggerated and point to the fact that the radical groups were not linked or organised.

• Was Liverpool's government repressive 1815 -21?

• Repressive and reactionary – – – Use of spies Use of force Six Acts • Not repressive – Six Acts time limited and not enforced – Habeas Corpus suspended for only 10 months – Seditious Meetings Act lapsed in 1818

Liverpool 1822 - 27

• Who were the Liberal Tories?

• • • • Sir Robert Peel – Home Secretary WJ Robinson – Chancellor of the Exchequer William Huskisson – President of the Board of Trade George Canning – Foreign Secretary

• Liberal Tories Key Themes • • • • The emergence of younger and more energetic ministers gave the government a more liberal image.

The new ministers were more open to the idea of reform Growing prosperity and a decline in social unrest Did the social and economic policies represent a departure from the ideas of the previous ministers?

• What reforms did Liverpool and the Liberal Tories introduce 1822 – 30?

• • • • Legal Reforms Economic Reforms Trade Union Reform Catholic Emancipation

• Legal Reforms • • • Capital Offences Act – abolished the death penalty for 180 offences. Peel did it as many magistrates were not enforcing the law as it stood.

Prison Reforms Gaols Act 1823 – Gaols set up in every county, officers were to be paid, female prisons had female guards.

Metropolitan Police Act

• Was Peel a reformer?

• • Yes – Removed laws not needed – Reorganised the criminal code – Goals act reduced the number of executions No – Simple completed a process started before him – Simplified criminal code not get more arrests – was not more lenient.

– 1805 – 12 67 executions per year – 1822 28 63 executions per year

• Economic Reforms • • • • • Move towards Free Trade idea started by Wallace vice president of board of trade 1821 23 Huskisson and Robinson in charge Reduction of duties Navigation Act Corn Laws relaxed

• Reduction of duties • • Taxes on Rum, Silk, wool, glass, books and paper were reduced 50% tax on manufacture goods reduced to 20%

• Navigation Act • • • Navigation Acts were a restriction on free trade The repeal in 1823 allowed for non British ships to trade directly with British colonies Resulted in freer flow of trade and lower prices

• Corn Laws relaxed • Huskisson introduced a sliding scale of duty on imported corn. This replaced the fixed 80 shilling rate in 1828 • Aim was to make bread etc more affordable whilst retaining traditional supporters.

• Were the economic reforms liberal?

• • None of the reforms were new ideas the work of Wallace The reforms were in place before 1822 but they were still introduced – there may not have been a decisive break with pre 1822 but it was the start of a free trade economy built on by Peel in 1840’s

• What were the Trade Union reforms?

• • Repeal of the Combinations Act 1824 – Combination Acts had made strikes illegal – Repeal now meant Unions and strikers not liable to prosecution Amending Act 1825 – A wave of unrest and strikes followed the relaxing of the Combination Acts. This amendment tightened the law – any act of force by a trade union was illegal.

• Can the Trade Union reforms be seen as liberal?

• At first glance yes – workers could now join unions and campaign for better wages etc • No – the Amending Act placed great restrictions on Unions and prevented them from being truly effective.

• The impact of the reforms • • • • There was no major ideological shift Liberal Toryism did reflect a more tolerant and imaginative approach to problems.

Some reforms were of great significance – – The Metropolitan Police Act – The Test and Corporations Act – Catholic Emancipation Other reforms though less significant set a precedence that marked the beginning of a reform process that would continue for the next 50 years.

• How important were the reforms • • • • The improvement in the economy was due more to the period of peace than to reforms Trade did not become “Free” until the 1840’s The Corn Laws, amended but stayed in place The Liberal Tories were as committed to the landed interest as their predecessors?

• How important were the Liberal Tories or How liberal were they?

• • • Perhaps the most significant element of Liberal Toryism was its attempt to embrace the manufacturing interest.

Peel and Huskisson both sought to introduce reforms that would appeal to the new manufacturing interest and its growing political influence. The significance of the reforms may have been limited but the importance of Liberal Toryism should not be overlooked.

– For some they represented a betrayal of Toryism – For others they represented a new attitude and a new generation of Tory Politicians

The end of the Tories 1828 - 32

• • What were the reasons for political unrest 1828 – 30.

The collapse of the Tories • • • • • • • • Pressure form the emerging middle class Working class discontent Political Unions The Economy Trade Unions International events Catholic Emancipation Instability in Government.

• Pressure form the emerging middle class • • • • New M/C wanted political reform Wanted government to move faster towards free trade M/C were the backbone of the new industrial economy M/C wanted political power

• Working class discontent • • • • Growth of the new industrial cities lead to w/c becoming radicalised Seemed to be working with the m/c for political change Effectively majority of w/c wanted better pay etc not the vote Govt saw a threat from the w/c

• Political Unions • • • Organised protest and had a political agenda. BPU put pressure on govt.

M/c seemed to be representing the w/c Did put pressure on govt but lacked a national organisation.

• The Economy • • • Bad harvest and an economic depression 1828 – 30 Wave of rural unrest swing riots in south and east of England Contributed to a growing fear of insecurity

• Trade Unions • • Wave of strikes and demonstrations combined with rural unrest to make govt think a radical threat was real.

Govt perceived a threat from the Unions and the m/c

• International events • • • July 1830 – Revolution in France – overthrow of Charles X.

Other revolutions in Belgium and the Hapsburgs Empire (Austria) This helped to create an atmosphere – what would happen in Britain if there was no reform?

• Catholic Emancipation • • Irish Catholics lead by Daniel O’Connell – right to sit at Westminster Campaign came to a head in 1829 – fear of open revolt in Ireland led the Govt to grant the Catholic Emancipation Act. Wellington and Peel – led on this. Split the Tory Party. Let in the Whigs

• Instability in Government • • • • • 15 years of stability under Liverpool.

1827 – 30 3 PM’s Canning, Goodrich and Wellington Liberal side of Party alienated by refusal of a moderate redistribution of seats.

Reactionary (Ultra) Tories alienated by Catholic Emancipation Tory Party spilt into 3 – Ultras – Canningites – Wellingtons supporters

The Great Reform Act

• Key issues • How great was the Great Reform Act 1832 • • • What were the main features of the old system?

Why had this system survived so long?

How and why did the Tories and the Whig parties differ over the issue of reform?

• What were the main features of the old system?

• Who could vote?

– County seats men who owned land worth 40 shillings (approx £100) – Boroughs varied enormously – In 1831 12-13% of males could vote out of a total population of 24,132,294.

– Elections only held if the seat was contested.

– Many boroughs were controlled by large landowners.

– Many different types of Borough

• Why had this system survived so long?

• • The Landowners – Very important they represented law an order and providers of welfare The idea of deference – It was the expectation that man of rank would represent ordinary people.

– Why does it need to change?

• Arguments against Reform • • • • The French Revolution Democracy = mob rule Democracy was seen as a threat to the rights of a freeborn Englishman not an ideal.

System was not unrepresentative – it represented all major economic interests – A man may not have the vote but is represented by the landlord.

• Arguments for Reform • • • • Need to reduce the influence of the King and his ministers.

The allocation of MP’s to boroughs depended on its status in the Middle Ages – Example Dunwich in 1831 32 electors and 2 MP’s. Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds no representation in Parliament.

The Rights of Man – legitimate Government must had a mandate from the people in governed.

The impact of Catholic Emancipation was huge – it paved the way for further reform –

“the battering ram that broke down the old system”

• This measure showed that you could change a system.

• The Consequences of the Reform Act I.

II.

III.

To what extent did the Reform Act change British politics?

What were the continuities pre and post 1832?

How significant was the Great Reform Act?

• • • Limited Change The Act only tinkered with the edges of reform and too many continuities remained. There was little change of fundamental importance.

• To what extent did the Reform Act change British politics?

• • Significant change Few historians contend that there were major continuities between the pre and post reform period. However – – The Act must be viewed in context and it can then be seen to represent a significant turning point

• What were the continuities pre and post 1832?

• Few recent historians believed the Act deserves to be called Great.

– There are continuities pre and post 1832. The Act did little to change the degree of power exercised by the aristocracy.

– The Middle Class remained under represented – The working class remained excluded form the franchise.

• How significant was the Great Reform Act?

• • • • • The development of working class political consciousness The evolution of the British party system This first act made it more difficult to resist further reforms (1867, 1884, 1919) The Act created a precedent it represented the first occasion the aristocracy were forced into political concessions.

The terms of the Act were not as important as the simple fact that it was passed.

Sir Robert Peel

• Peel as a Party leader 1832 - 41 • Key Themes • • • • • • Peels aims as a party leader Attitude to Parliamentary reform The Tamworth Manifesto The reconstruction of the Tory Party Taking advantage of the failures of the Whigs The 1841 election.

• Key themes • Peel as Prime Minister 1841 – 46 • (refer to big 37 powerpoint on Peel for help here) • • • • • The Budgets of 1842 and 1845 Income Tax Financial Reform – The Bank Charter Act – The Companies Act Peel and Ireland – The Irish Famine, Maynooth, Daniel O'Connell etc.

Peel and the Corn Laws – Influence of the Anti Corn Law League – – Repeal of the Corn Laws The collapse of the Conservative Party.

• An analysis of Peel • Was Peel a successful Prime Minister?

• Did Peel betray his Party?

• Did Peel put the nation above party politics?

• Was Peel a successful Prime Minister?

• • Yes – His policies led to an age of prosperity – financial stability, trade revived, – He restored confidence in politics – out manoeuvred the Chartists and O’Connell – He was a progressive reformer? Accepted things he had previously opposed – He was a man of principle No – a one trick pony – all his faith in free trade – None of the ideas were his – in fact he often started by opposing many things he later accepted.

• Did Peel betray his Party?

• No – – – The new party under his leadership adapted to the demands of the 1840’s He didn’t destroy he created – gave the party a sense of purpose Peelite supporters remained within the party even after 1846.

• Yes – Peel sacrificed his party on many occasions – – 1829, 1834, 1842, 1845 Ignored traditional party values – landed interest – – Ireland The Corn Laws