2. Chapter VIII Developing Great Britain

3. I. The Postwar Economy & Society 1. Though agricultural and industrial production increased, the national debt quadrupled, and unemployment was more serious. 2. A new Corn Law was passed in 1815 which was rejected by the industrial bourgeoisie.new Corn Law 3. Strikes and mass meetings were often held in many cities. 4. The first crisis appeared in 1825.

4. 5. The Peterloo Massacre In August 1819 a demonstration was organized in Manchester to demand universal suffrage, vote by ballot, annul Parliament and the repeal of the Corn Laws. It was suppressed by the government with 11 persons killed and over 400 wounded.

5. The Peterloo Massacre

6. II. Political Reform 1. Background A. The names of Tory and Whig changed to Conservative and Liberal. They attached each other for the election. B. Britain was full of economic and social grievances and religious problems, so the crowds welcomed the reform. C. Britain was one of the most corrupt oligarchies in Europe. Not only poor people, but also the capitalists were deprived of political rights.

7. 2. The new Whig-led government put forward the Reform Bill. A. Contents It made three important changes: a. A number of “rotten boroughs” were abolished. b. Additional seats were given to the most populous counties. c. only the men who had on certain amount of property or paid a certain amount of rent had the right to vote.

8. B. Effect It had strong effect on Britain. It made the social condition even worse for the working class and some lower middle classes, which remained voteless on account of the high property qualification.

9. III. The New Poor Law and the Anti- Corn Law League 1. The New Poor Law It was passed in 1834, according to the law, the only relief that the poorest workers could get was given in the workhouses, where conditions were even worse than those of the meanest laborer who was earning his own living.

11. 2. The working-class movement A. the Anti-Corn Law League An organization was formed in 1838 under Bright and Cobden in Manchester, which was against the Corn Laws. In 1848 Peel repealed the corn laws. Britain began the principles of free trade.

12. Anti-Corn Law League Bazaar, 1842

13. Bright and Cobden

14. B. The Chartist Movement a. Come-into-being In 1836 the London Working Men’s Association was organized. In 1837 a petition, known as the People’s Charter was drawn up. Association b. Purpose to seek universal suffrage. c. Two groups of Chartists moral force—believe in reform by peaceful means. physical force—advocates violence

15. d. Its height In 1839-1848, three petitions were presented to Parliament, but all three were rejected. e. Declined after 1848 f. Reason of failure divided leadership & lack of a strong basis of class unity g. Significance English working-class entered a period of conducting independent political movements against the bourgeoisie.

16. The End

17. The Corn Laws 1. Contents In order to get economic protection, the agriculturalists passed laws to keep up grain prices and tents by taxing imported grain in 1815 and they were repealed in 1848.

18. 2. Influence It made labour-power dearer, shrank the home market and hampered the development of foreign trade. The industrial bourgeoisie resented the Corn Law. “Middle class” began to be used. back

20. the Chartist Movement

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