anti-corn law league

• Why were the 1815 anti corn laws introduced

  - durinf war with france britain banned the use of cheap french wheat

  - no competition for british farmers and could charge more

  - when the war ended rich landowners wanted ro keep prices high

  - corn laws kept the orices high and the workinf clsss suffered
• Why did the anti corn law league protest?

  - middle class men felt the restrictions were unfair to the poor and manufactures

  - cheap wheat could lower living costs

  - farmers could make meat expensive instead

  - people could spend more on industrial items helping manufactures

  - counties that export wheat could invest in industry

  - relations through trade could ensure peace in Europe
• Methods of Anti-Corn Law League

  - riots over country

  - leaguers Richard Cobden and John bright were good orators who toured and gave speeches

  - created pamphlets and published articles

  - used railways

  - used penny post to spread pamphlets to every eligible voters
• Factors for reform

  - plight of the poor

  - 1840s Ireland potato famine caused by crop disease blight

  - Ireland relied heavily on potatoes and bread in diet

  - by 1846s Ireland experienced terrible famine and millions were starving

  - corn laws meant there was no spare wheat to send to Ireland
• When were the Corn Laws repealed?

  1846 Robert peel repealed corn laws and hoped people would remember him for doing the right thing
• Impact of repeal

  - low priced of wheat was not because of foreign imports but because of wheat over production

  - increase in population and return to normal prices meant farmers and landowners did not suffer

  - the poor could afford wheat and the price of barley, oats and meat actually increased which he,led farmers

  - influence of landowning class was challenged

  - led to more protection of working class
• Comparison to chartists (causes)

  Chartists - economic hardships, lack of working class political representation, desire for electoral reform

  Anti corn league- high crop prices, belief in free trade, opposition to aristocratic landowners benefiting from tariffs
• Comparison to chartists (events)

  Chartists - petitions, mass meetings and demonstrations, strikes and physical force

  Anti corn law league- petitions to parliament, public meetings and lectures, newspapers and pamphlets
• Comparison to chartists (consequences)

  Chartists - rejection of peoples charter, violent uprising, long term influence of democratic reforms

  Anti corn law league - repealing of corn laws in 1846, established free trade as a key principle, middle class influence in politics
• Comparison to abolition (methods)

  Abolition- petitions, speeches in parliament, pamphlets, public meetings, books

  Anti corn law league - speeches, pamphlets, newspaper articles, used railway, sent Pamphlets through penny post
• Comparison to abolition (impact)

  Abolition - 1833 act only freed those under 6, slaves now forced to compete for paid work, smuggling became widespread

  Anti corn law league- Robert peel resigned as prime minister, farmers and landowners did well, people had more income and could buy meat, influence of the landowning