Liberal Toryism. (This might seem like a contradiction in terms, eg: Pitt & Liverpool’s attitude towards radicals and re4m). The Liverpool years are divided into three periods:
Liberal Toryism (LT) is a more prosperous phase for the economy and for the government. Historians have drawn a contrast between 2 and 3 (in the list above). LT is usually associated with a series of ministers who are brought to cabinet in 1822 after Castlereigh’s suicide brought about a re-shuffle. This cabinet centres around CANNING (Foreign Secretary) ROBINSON (Chancellor of the Exchequer) HUSKISSON(President of the board of trade) PEEL (More of a Liberal Tory as opposed to a Canningite) (Peel is Home Secretary) All of these people are associated with moderate reforms. Liverpool brought these people to government to build up support by satisfying the middle classes. Some argue that Liverpool sought to improve social & economic conditions, and therefore win support of the middle classes, as alleviating stress would also reduce demand for parliamentary re4m. In 1822, government could afford economic re4m. By 1822, it doesn’t look like capitulation on the radicals. What reforms were made? Robinson and Huskisson re4m the tariff structure, reducing tariffs and moving towards freer trade (This is the main feature of LT, in that there is a belief that fewer restrictions causes more prosperity). Tariffs remained on corn. In 1828, they modify the Corn Law by introducing a sliding scale to make it more stable. This evens out fluctuations in price of corn. Peel reforms the legal and penal systems
BUT, none of these men favoured parliamentary re4m. The reforms wade were cosmetic as opposed to fundamental. There isn’t much distinction between pre and post 1820:
- Throughout both periods, parliamentary re4m is opposed
- The "New" men had been in government prior to 1822
- Idea of freer trade isn’t new: Pitt had pursued it in 1780s, but had to abandon it because of the war. The idea had been discussed pre-Huskisson. They couldn’t go to freer trade earlier because the government financial position needed the tariff income because of war debt and no income tax after 1816.
- Peel’s reforms are about increasing efficiency as opposed to increasing humanitarianism.
- Some reforms had happened pre-1822 (Eg: Factory act 1819, and abolition of whipping women 1822)
LT is not a change in style or substance in the Tory government, but a change in the circumstances of government. Esp. economic circumstances. Exercise on the Corn Law.
- Evans Ch. 19
- McCord pp16 ff
What was The Corn Law? A law that stopped foreign corn from being sold in Britain until the domestic price of corn reached 80shillings a quarter. Why was it passed? To protect landowners and farmers against falling prices. Why was it perceived as class legislation? People thought that the landowners were interfering with a free market to suit their own interests. Why do you think it proved so valuable to radical agitators? What economic problems did Britain face after 1815?
- Stunted Harvest
- Trade depression
- Glutted labour market
- Increase in wheat prices (to about 100 shillings a quarter).
Give examples of the major forms of radical activity 1815-20
- Mass meetings.
- Petitions for parliamentary reform.
- Re-emergence of political clubs.
- Development of the reformist press.
How did the government respond to radical agitation 1815-20?
- Anti French propaganda
- Anti-radical propaganda
- Suspension of Habeas Corpus
- Proclamation of seditious writings
- Seditious meetings act
- New taxes on newspapers to stop the flow of radical ideas.
How serious a threat was radicalism 1815-20?
- Moderate, in that if it had taken off, it would have made it easier for the French to invade, in that the people wouldn’t resist as much (as radicalism was based on the ideas shown in the French Revolution)
- Strong, in that it could well have gained a foothold in the lower and middle classes, especially when price of corn rose Paine’s book The Rights of Man (Part 2) sold 200,000 copies!
Account for Peterloo.
- 1818 radical activity increases with appearance of Political Protestants
- Sir Charles Wolseley was selected as ‘legislatorial attorney’ at a mass meeting in Birmingham. The government see this as illegal, and arrest him.
- The Manchester Radical Union follows this example (mass meeting and popular election election later dropped in favour of resolutions for parliamentary reform)
- 16th August @ St. Peter’s Fields outside Manchester. Some magistrates decided to arrest the principal speaker, Henry Hunt, before he began his speech, under the cover of the Manchester & Salford Yeomanry. The Yeomanry arrest Hunt, but can’t get out of the crowd as they are trapped.
- Magistrates dispatch Hussars, who cause a panic as they force their way into the crowd
- Yeomanry also panic
- At end of the day, 11 had been killed.
What do you think was the significance of Peterloo?
- It marks when the government’s foes unite - aristocratic Whigs join the radical protest
- Shows that the government wasn’t going to stand back and let the radicals have what they wanted.
- Shows the determination of the magistrates, in that they wanted to stop the spread of radical ideas in this case even before the meeting had started.
What were the 6 acts? (November 1819) Intended to strengthen the forces of order. They
How repressive was this legislation? On the face of it, it looks fairly suppressive. However when the two temporary sections (see above) expired, no effort was made to make them permanent. The legislation was not implemented with much effort, and the punishments for breaking this legislation were not severe. |
