Reformative 1820 - 1827

• What was the significance of the liberal tory reforms

  • After 1822 tories had a more liberal attitude towards reform (minimal reform 1812-20)
  • However, failure to introduce parliamentary/social reform showed no significant difference between the two governments
• What was Free Trade

  Merchants faced tariffs & restrictions to protect British businesses e.g. raw materials
• Introduction of free trade (1820) - no protectionism

  • Reduced import duties introduced on range of goods e.g. cotton, tea, alcohol, iron etc
  • Removed Imperial Preference, no longer trade through Britain & lower duties on colony goods 
  • Modified obsolete restrictions (1600s Navigation Laws)
  • Modified corn laws, sliding scale on import duties (as price fell, duty increased)
• Positive results of Free Trade

  • Cheaper raw materials 
  • Exports increased (competitive)
  • Smuggling began to disappear 
  • Step towards free trade
• Negative results of Free Trade

  • Lost income from duties 
  • 1825, slump in exports (overproduction)
  • Unemployment & machine breaking 
  • Wrongly blamed Huskisson
• Repeal of the Combination Laws (1824)

  • Laws were inefficient, unions still existed as ‘friendly societies’ - unemployment benefits 
  • Workers unhappy because they were outlawed (joined protests)
• Results of the repeal of the Combination Laws

  • Hundreds of unions were formed and came out in the open 
  • 1825, strikes for better wages made industrialists pressure gov to compromise 
  • 1825, The Amending Act, unions ONLY negotiate wages, work hrs & not allowed to obstruct work
• The Penal Code reform

  • Death penalty abolished for 180 crimes (other than murder & treason)
  • Punishments were made less severe & jury system was reorganised 
  • Abolishion of burying suicides at cross roads with a stake through the heart
• Results of the penal code reform

  • Genuine liberal & humanitarian reform 
  • Transportation still given for being in debt & public hanging continue until 1868 
  • Court procedure was still very slow
• Problems with the Law & Order

  • Penal code was too severe (200 minor offences gained death penalty, 400 by transportation)
  • Overcrowded, filthy unsanitary prison conditions & child offenders put with hardened criminals 
  • Jailers were brutal and made living off prisoner bribes (no salary)
• The Jails Act 1823

  • Magistrates to inspect prisons & jailers to be paid (female jailers for female prisoners)
  • All prisoners to receive basic healthcare & education
• The Jails Act (1823)

  • Removed the worst abuses from prison system 
  • Only applied to large London prisons & small prisons remained as before
• Results of the Jails Act 1829

  • Removed the worst abuses from prison system 
  • Only applied to large London prisons & small prisons remained as before
• What was the Metropolitan Police Act (1829)

  • Introduced 1000 paid police controlled by commissioner at Scotland Yard
  • Paid by special rate & only armed with truncheons (not military)