Anti corn laws

• corn law

  • tax on imported corn in 1815
  • Made bread more expensive ( main source of food)
  • Factory owners opposed the corn laws
  • stop cheap imports competing with British farmers
• Opposition of the Corn laws

  1830s Nottingham factory owners

  > Coordinated countrywide action

  > 1839 bill to repeal the corn laws received 195 vote- still a defeat but strong support
• key impact of anti corn laws

  1846- repealed the corn laws

  • followed by bad harvest
  • raised prices
  • Robert peel did not want to be seen to give into the pressure of the league
  • 1846- free trade support
  • Irish potato famine, supply of cheap corn needed to feed thousands
  • Supported by skilled workers, manufactures and new urban middle classes who influenced whigs
• what and effect of anti-corn law league

  Focused on repeal- Avoided the split that damaged the Chartist

  Collected huge petitions- kept pressure of public opinion

  Non violent approach- did not risk losing middle class support

  Efificnet administration- kept message consistent, increasing members