How Radical Protest Increased Pressure for Change Flashcards

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What is meant by 'radical protest' in Britain in the early 1800s?

Radical protest was when people demanded big changes to politics, such as a fairer vote and more equal seats in Parliament.

Why did radicals organise large open-air meetings in this period?

Mass meetings gathered huge crowds in one place. They showed the government that many ordinary people wanted reform and could act together.

What happened at the Spa Fields meeting in London in 1816?

A peaceful reform meeting turned violent when a small group tried to seize weapons and march on buildings. It alarmed the government about radical threats.

What was the Pentridge Rising of 1817?

It was a small armed march by workers in Derbyshire, encouraged by a government spy. The rising was crushed and leaders were executed. It showed deep anger and harsh repression.

What was the Peterloo Massacre in 1819?

In Manchester, cavalry charged a large peaceful crowd gathered to hear Henry Hunt speak for reform. Around 18 people were killed and many more were injured.

How did the Peterloo Massacre increase pressure for change?

News of the killings shocked Britain. Many people saw the government as brutal and became more determined to push for safer, legal political reform.

How did radical writers like William Cobbett help the reform movement?

Through cheap newspapers and pamphlets, they explained unfair voting rules in simple language. This spread reform ideas to many workers who could now read.

Who was Henry Hunt and why was he important to radical protest?

Henry Hunt was a famous radical speaker who led mass meetings like Peterloo. His speeches helped unite large crowds behind the demand for parliamentary reform.

How did the government try to stop radical protest, and how could this backfire?

It used spies, arrests and repressive laws like the Six Acts. These measures angered many people and sometimes made radicals look like brave victims.

How did the Birmingham Political Union (BPU) put pressure on the government from 1830?

The BPU united middle-class and working-class people in peaceful marches and petitions. Its size and discipline showed that reform supporters were organised and respectable.

What were the Swing Riots of 1830 and why did they worry the ruling class?

Farm workers attacked threshing machines and burned barns in southern England. The unrest made landowners fear that wider revolution was possible without reform.

What were the 'Days of May' in 1832 and how did they affect reform?

When the Lords blocked the Reform Bill, there were mass protests, bank runs and a tax strike threat. The fear of chaos helped force the Lords to give way.

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