Rotten and pocket boroughs

Over powerful king

Antiquated system

New M/C interest, Capitalism

French Revolution 1789

Radical Press

Repressive government – esp. from 1815 - 22

Working class dissatisfaction

Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815

End of war, 1815

Issues concerning Parliamentary reform

Rotten and Pocket Boroughs:

Control by landowner or King – Electorate & Parliamentary seat

Uncontested elections

Example of old medieval world – Feudal System

Useful Parliamentary tool

Over Powerful King:

Patronage – Unfair means of increasing royal authority

Largest landowner/landlord in the country

Excessive influence on legislature for a democracy

Antiquated system – esp. borough voting:

X5 types of borough qualification

Open voting

Bribery / intimidation / corruption

Rotten / pocket boroughs

No reflection of population movement (South > North)

No reflection of new interest, Industrialists

Undemocratic & Out of kilter with economic & social changes

New M/C interest, Capitalism:

Parliament dominated by landowners

M/C have no representation in Parliament

Corn Laws 1815 damage capitalists

Capitalists creating International economic & imperial growth

Large taxes and no political voice

Providing jobs

French Revolution and radical ideas from 1789:

Initially promotes calls for moderate reform in the UK

From 1793 reform calls subdued by Napoleonic Wars

New ideas among masses of a new social order

Tom Paine: ‘Rights of Man’ – 1st treatise on Human Rights

Puts fear into upper and middle classes

Promotes repressive legislation

Radical Press:

Raises mass awareness of benefits of reform

- William Cobbett’s: Political Register & Twopenny Trash

- Thomas Wooler’s: Black Dwarf, 1817 –24

- William Sherwin’s: Weekly Political Register

Gives a voice to minority opinion

Publicises incidents of corruption and government repression

Advertises Parliamentary Reform Events

Encourages improvement of literacy levels in the w/c

Repressive government (Esp. from 1815 – 22):

Fear of revolution prompts suspension of civil rights

Determined to protect good order & elevated position

Born to rule by divine right, revolutionaries go to hell

Residuum would destroy the country

Power of the state

Repressive legislation

Seditious Meetings/Materials Act

(1817)

Suspension of Habeus Corpus (1817)

Repeal of the Combination Acts (1799)

The Game Law (1816)

Working class dissatisfaction:

Appalling living and working conditions

- The Death League

- Child Labour

- Routine exploitation at home and work

W/C victims of unrestrained capitalism

Secret vote for all men over 21 demanded

W/C voters elect working men to parliament

W/C government pass laws to benefit the w/c

Napoleonic Wars 1793 - 1815:

Employment level increases nationwide

War creates demands for goods, Govt supplying soldiers

Patriotic spirit from being under attack

Little / No working class agitation

Demands for reform during wartime seen as treachery

Subdues radical demands, w/c happy to live everyday lives

Shows a lack of commitment to the campaign for the vote

End of the Napoleonic Wars, 1815:

End of government contracts & cohesive patriotism

Unemployment leads to;

- Poverty

- Hunger

- Agitation riots

- Petitions

Fearful government & M/C Revert to post French Rev repression

Execution, imprisonment, transportation, legislation

Power of the state – Must be persuaded, Can’t be forced