A tiny bell rang when the door to the shop was opened and closed again. I locked the door and peered down the narrow street. A warm breeze whistled between the buildings, carrying with it the sound of a cheering crowd. With one last glance at my tiny shop, I followed the source of the noise with curiosity. A meeting was being held at Saint Peter’s Field that day. I don’t think I would have missed it for anything. It was advertised in the Political Registrar that the meeting was going to discuss reforms for Parliament. I wasn’t much of a politician, but even I knew when things need changing. Life was hard, especially for a lower-class shop keeper like myself. The war with Napoleon had taken its toll on Britain socially and economically. The high unemployment from discharged soldiers and industrial workers coupled with a two year famine caused quite a few problems. Of course, Lord Liverpool was supposed to be working to fix these problems, but he’s been more concerned with the interests of the upper classes.
As I neared the Field, the calamity grew stronger. A crowd opened up in front of me, and I realized it was more of a rally than a civil meeting. A mob of people occupied Saint Peter’s Field, and in the center was a platform. Henry Hunt stood facing the crowd from the platform. Everybody knew him from his speeches and articles about reforming the government. I also noticed William Cobbett standing close by, who was the writer of the Political Registrar. I knew I would read his report about the meeting tomorrow morning. The upper class thought he was only turning the people away from their “natural leaders,” but Cobbett was probably the most influential figure when it came to reform. I worked my way into the crowd, settling between a group of men whom I had recognized from the factory down the street from my shop. The last I had heard, since the war was over, a lot of people were losing their jobs at the factory, and I wondered if these men still worked there too. I caught the eye of a tall man with thick arms, and he nodded in recognition. “What’s going on?” I asked him, motioning to the podium in the center of the Field. “There talkin’ about all the stuff the government’s done to us,” he responded. I wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about, and I guess my face gave that away, because he rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. “Ya know, the ‘Corn Laws’ and such?” I nodded, remembering. The Corn Laws raised the taxes domestically grown foods like grain, and took away the income tax for the upper class citizens to replace it with sales tax on consumer goods that affected everyone. Suddenly, a chorus of shouts rose from the crowd. I started when the men I was standing with joined them, pumping their fists in the air. Another man with a similar build as the first nudged me with his elbow. “Combination Acts!” he shouted over din, a determined scowl on his scarred face. I nodded gravely. The Combination Acts outlawed groups and unions for workers. No doubt these men lost a lot of financial support when that law was passed.
I listened for a while to the clamor of the tumultuous crowd. The people, I noticed, belonged mostly to the lower middle class like me. They were the people who were most inclined to want change, because they knew enough to want more out of their country. Because the men in charge, like Lord Liverpool, were more concerned with what the upper class was doing, and because of the laws that benefit the rich and hurt the poor, the government was essentially abandoning the lower class; it was the opposite of what was traditionally done in the past. I remember hearing about the French Revolution, and the group of people screaming before me reminded me of the sans-culottes. I sure hope we don’t end up like France… I glint of steel caught my attention and I turned my head towards the outskirts of the assembled people. The cavalry was stationed around the group and they seemed to begin to move forward on their large stallions. I had an uneasy feeling about their presence. The Coercion Act banned any seditious gatherings, and this gathering seemed to be getting pretty seditious. It also suspended the habeas corpus, meaning they could arrest anyone there without any evidence whatsoever. The militia dispersed into the throng of people; they towered over everyone, brandishing their weapons. The shrieks of horses mingled with the cries of frightened protesters. People around me started to scatter, pushing and shoving away from the podium. I noticed Henry Hunt being torn from the platform and bound with ropes before I was shoved to the ground. Dozens of heavy boots trampled on my hands and feet, and one person even stepped on my chest, knocking the breath out of me. I desperately scrambled toward the nearest storefront, hearing nothing but the shouting and screaming, and the blood pounding in my ears. A cry sounded over noise filled with terror and anguish. I turned just in time to see a sword being thrust into a man’s chest. Horrorstruck, I crawled backwards until I hit a brick wall. The man who was stabbed was the same man I had been talking to just ten minutes before. Finally finding an opening, I struggled to my feet. I couldn’t move my arm and a gash on my leg was bleeding freely, but I was numb to the pain. All I could think about was the image of that sword imbedding itself into a man’s chest. I turned my back on the massacre and fled down the street, returning to the relative safety of my own home. Fifteen Years Later… I sighed into the spring breeze and ascended the few concrete steps to the court house. The building was large and stately, and when I entered I was buffeted by the air rushing though the spacious front room. This country came a long way for me to be here. The past decade and a half demonstrated that liberalism and conservatism could work together. After the “Peterloo Massacre” all those years ago, the government had tried to end violent protests by repressing any form of public rallies. However, it took a change of power to convince the authorities that they were wrong.
The Six Articles came shortly after that tragic day at Saint Peter’s Field, forbidding unauthorized public meetings, raising fines for an seditious acts against the government, speeding along trials for any of the so-called radical leaders, increasing the taxes on newspapers (including the Political Registrar), prohibiting the training of armed groups, and allowing officials to search homes in certain areas of public unrest. This law stripped the liberals of their influence and returned power to the authorities. However, things weren’t that easy. The Cato Street Conspiracy proved something more needed to be done when it was discovered that a group of men under the direction under someone named “Thistlewood” planned to blow up the entire British cabinet. Although it shed a dark light on the reformers, it showed that change was inevitable. King William IV took the throne not too long ago from George IV, and he elected the House of Commons, a branch of Parliament that represented the people. He then passed the Great Reform Bill, which changed British history. I entered a cavernous room lined with rows of wooden benches and took a seat near the back. I still wasn’t much of a politician, so I preferred to watch and listen while the voting took place. Gazing around the room, I noticed the amount of people pouring through the double doors. The British Electorate was increased by fifty percent under the Great Reform Bill, allowing a more diverse group of people to have a voice in their government. City folk and landowners had more opportunity to vote like I was, and even the Irish were represented, especially after the Act of Union included Ireland as part of the British Isles. Many around me were from the commercial and industrial classes; it was finally realized that those people made up most of the population, and the British economy depended on the success of the country. Life had turned up for the citizens of Britain. There wasn’t any more need for public demonstrations demanding reform, and violence was out of the question. It was understood that the British laws, traditions, and public opinion all wanted the civil liberties of people to be respected. A sense of nationalism developed, and the conservative government was able to embrace moderate change to please the liberals. The court house was filled with the pleasant chatter of a pleased group of voters as everyone waited for the meeting to start. I allowed their contented spirits to influence me, and I almost smiled openly. Unlike the rest of Europe, Britain was able to handle its problems in a civil manner by compromise. The traditional institutions of government remained intact, and a new branch of Parliament allowed the people to influence what was done in their country. In this way, revolution was completely unnecessary, and a peaceful negotiation between conservatism and liberalism kept Britain from splitting apart into war.
It is interesting to read about how England started to go in the same direction that France did just a few decades before when they made reforms that were pleasing to the rich and the poor went on to receive more taxes and stricter laws. Then to see how only took a little more than a decade to realize that the majority of the people were of the lower classes and did not deserve to be treated that way. Change was shown to be a must for England with how they needed to gain the liking of the people in order to prevent any future protests from happening.
I find it interesting just how much corruption was present in the government of Britain. I'm curious as to how the Coercion Acts was justified because what it did was basically allow lawlessness to prevail. Giving authorities the ability to freely arrest citizens, I don't understand how they were able to get away with it. Another thing I'm curious about is why it took so long for the government to recognize the obvious problems. Events like the Peterloo Massacre and other random outbreaks should have been an exclamation point to the government that things were very wrong. However, there was no improvement until government power changed hands. I know that no government ever wants to believe that they could EVER be wrong, but this one needed a reality check because the chaos was incredible.
It seemed that at this time period everything that England fought for was in vain. Habeas Corpus was repealed which allowed for people to be arrested for no reason. I found this contradictory to the government that England had before this turmoil. It seemed that the government was working for the people only . Also, the fact that they were not allowed to hold these public meetings was absurd because these people should have had the right to do that. The peoples rights were restricted.
Englands government was one that was fair to the people. A constitutional monarchy that allowed for the representation of all men as equals was what they had earned. Many other nations strived to reach their peace, which made this fall comical. They are like a horrible drug addict who defeated their addiction, but then got a taste of the old ways and all their new ideals went out the window. The people were held down by society, then giving equal rights. The government took away a right or two, then went for the gold in a terrible relapse.
Come with us, your under arrest! they kicked in my door and dragged me out as they accused me of plotting to blow up the entire English cabinet. I returned with a barage of curses and kicks as they hauled me away. It all started years ago after the war and Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. The economy was based on war and when it ended all the soldiers and factory workers found themselves unemployed this coupled with the horrible harvest made everything cost more. The real problems started when that rotten establishment "parliament" decided to sprint to the right wing ideals and remove the taxes from the rich deciding instead to tax everyone equally through sales tax. They also decided to help out their big business buddies and make it illegal for us normal folks to form unions and demand a fair treatment. Everyone and their brother wanted reform but the main crusaders for justce were Cobett, Henry Hunt, and John Cartwright. Eventually the government tried to silence us through the coercion acts but that only proved our point as they suspended haebius corpus. All the tension boiled over at our demestration at St. Petersburg church as the local militiia started advancing on us like it was a battlefeild. They killed 11 in their wake and left over 600 injured. The final straw that put me over the top was the six acts that were basically the government shutting us up. That is why my self and a group of fellow liberals planned this statement and Thistlewood was our leader. Am i mad i got caught yes would i do it again ? in a heartbeat liberty for all!!! i have to go now the noose is ready
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA tiny bell rang when the door to the shop was opened and closed again. I locked the door and peered down the narrow street. A warm breeze whistled between the buildings, carrying with it the sound of a cheering crowd. With one last glance at my tiny shop, I followed the source of the noise with curiosity.
ReplyDeleteA meeting was being held at Saint Peter’s Field that day. I don’t think I would have missed it for anything. It was advertised in the Political Registrar that the meeting was going to discuss reforms for Parliament. I wasn’t much of a politician, but even I knew when things need changing.
Life was hard, especially for a lower-class shop keeper like myself. The war with Napoleon had taken its toll on Britain socially and economically. The high unemployment from discharged soldiers and industrial workers coupled with a two year famine caused quite a few problems. Of course, Lord Liverpool was supposed to be working to fix these problems, but he’s been more concerned with the interests of the upper classes.
As I neared the Field, the calamity grew stronger. A crowd opened up in front of me, and I realized it was more of a rally than a civil meeting. A mob of people occupied Saint Peter’s Field, and in the center was a platform. Henry Hunt stood facing the crowd from the platform. Everybody knew him from his speeches and articles about reforming the government. I also noticed William Cobbett standing close by, who was the writer of the Political Registrar. I knew I would read his report about the meeting tomorrow morning. The upper class thought he was only turning the people away from their “natural leaders,” but Cobbett was probably the most influential figure when it came to reform.
ReplyDeleteI worked my way into the crowd, settling between a group of men whom I had recognized from the factory down the street from my shop. The last I had heard, since the war was over, a lot of people were losing their jobs at the factory, and I wondered if these men still worked there too. I caught the eye of a tall man with thick arms, and he nodded in recognition.
“What’s going on?” I asked him, motioning to the podium in the center of the Field.
“There talkin’ about all the stuff the government’s done to us,” he responded. I wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about, and I guess my face gave that away, because he rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. “Ya know, the ‘Corn Laws’ and such?” I nodded, remembering. The Corn Laws raised the taxes domestically grown foods like grain, and took away the income tax for the upper class citizens to replace it with sales tax on consumer goods that affected everyone.
Suddenly, a chorus of shouts rose from the crowd. I started when the men I was standing with joined them, pumping their fists in the air. Another man with a similar build as the first nudged me with his elbow. “Combination Acts!” he shouted over din, a determined scowl on his scarred face. I nodded gravely. The Combination Acts outlawed groups and unions for workers. No doubt these men lost a lot of financial support when that law was passed.
I listened for a while to the clamor of the tumultuous crowd. The people, I noticed, belonged mostly to the lower middle class like me. They were the people who were most inclined to want change, because they knew enough to want more out of their country. Because the men in charge, like Lord Liverpool, were more concerned with what the upper class was doing, and because of the laws that benefit the rich and hurt the poor, the government was essentially abandoning the lower class; it was the opposite of what was traditionally done in the past. I remember hearing about the French Revolution, and the group of people screaming before me reminded me of the sans-culottes. I sure hope we don’t end up like France…
ReplyDeleteI glint of steel caught my attention and I turned my head towards the outskirts of the assembled people. The cavalry was stationed around the group and they seemed to begin to move forward on their large stallions. I had an uneasy feeling about their presence. The Coercion Act banned any seditious gatherings, and this gathering seemed to be getting pretty seditious. It also suspended the habeas corpus, meaning they could arrest anyone there without any evidence whatsoever.
The militia dispersed into the throng of people; they towered over everyone, brandishing their weapons. The shrieks of horses mingled with the cries of frightened protesters. People around me started to scatter, pushing and shoving away from the podium. I noticed Henry Hunt being torn from the platform and bound with ropes before I was shoved to the ground. Dozens of heavy boots trampled on my hands and feet, and one person even stepped on my chest, knocking the breath out of me. I desperately scrambled toward the nearest storefront, hearing nothing but the shouting and screaming, and the blood pounding in my ears.
A cry sounded over noise filled with terror and anguish. I turned just in time to see a sword being thrust into a man’s chest. Horrorstruck, I crawled backwards until I hit a brick wall. The man who was stabbed was the same man I had been talking to just ten minutes before.
Finally finding an opening, I struggled to my feet. I couldn’t move my arm and a gash on my leg was bleeding freely, but I was numb to the pain. All I could think about was the image of that sword imbedding itself into a man’s chest.
I turned my back on the massacre and fled down the street, returning to the relative safety of my own home.
Fifteen Years Later…
I sighed into the spring breeze and ascended the few concrete steps to the court house. The building was large and stately, and when I entered I was buffeted by the air rushing though the spacious front room.
This country came a long way for me to be here. The past decade and a half demonstrated that liberalism and conservatism could work together. After the “Peterloo Massacre” all those years ago, the government had tried to end violent protests by repressing any form of public rallies. However, it took a change of power to convince the authorities that they were wrong.
The Six Articles came shortly after that tragic day at Saint Peter’s Field, forbidding unauthorized public meetings, raising fines for an seditious acts against the government, speeding along trials for any of the so-called radical leaders, increasing the taxes on newspapers (including the Political Registrar), prohibiting the training of armed groups, and allowing officials to search homes in certain areas of public unrest. This law stripped the liberals of their influence and returned power to the authorities. However, things weren’t that easy.
ReplyDeleteThe Cato Street Conspiracy proved something more needed to be done when it was discovered that a group of men under the direction under someone named “Thistlewood” planned to blow up the entire British cabinet. Although it shed a dark light on the reformers, it showed that change was inevitable.
King William IV took the throne not too long ago from George IV, and he elected the House of Commons, a branch of Parliament that represented the people. He then passed the Great Reform Bill, which changed British history.
I entered a cavernous room lined with rows of wooden benches and took a seat near the back. I still wasn’t much of a politician, so I preferred to watch and listen while the voting took place. Gazing around the room, I noticed the amount of people pouring through the double doors. The British Electorate was increased by fifty percent under the Great Reform Bill, allowing a more diverse group of people to have a voice in their government. City folk and landowners had more opportunity to vote like I was, and even the Irish were represented, especially after the Act of Union included Ireland as part of the British Isles. Many around me were from the commercial and industrial classes; it was finally realized that those people made up most of the population, and the British economy depended on the success of the country.
Life had turned up for the citizens of Britain. There wasn’t any more need for public demonstrations demanding reform, and violence was out of the question. It was understood that the British laws, traditions, and public opinion all wanted the civil liberties of people to be respected. A sense of nationalism developed, and the conservative government was able to embrace moderate change to please the liberals.
The court house was filled with the pleasant chatter of a pleased group of voters as everyone waited for the meeting to start. I allowed their contented spirits to influence me, and I almost smiled openly. Unlike the rest of Europe, Britain was able to handle its problems in a civil manner by compromise. The traditional institutions of government remained intact, and a new branch of Parliament allowed the people to influence what was done in their country. In this way, revolution was completely unnecessary, and a peaceful negotiation between conservatism and liberalism kept Britain from splitting apart into war.
It is interesting to read about how England started to go in the same direction that France did just a few decades before when they made reforms that were pleasing to the rich and the poor went on to receive more taxes and stricter laws. Then to see how only took a little more than a decade to realize that the majority of the people were of the lower classes and did not deserve to be treated that way. Change was shown to be a must for England with how they needed to gain the liking of the people in order to prevent any future protests from happening.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting just how much corruption was present in the government of Britain. I'm curious as to how the Coercion Acts was justified because what it did was basically allow lawlessness to prevail. Giving authorities the ability to freely arrest citizens, I don't understand how they were able to get away with it. Another thing I'm curious about is why it took so long for the government to recognize the obvious problems. Events like the Peterloo Massacre and other random outbreaks should have been an exclamation point to the government that things were very wrong. However, there was no improvement until government power changed hands. I know that no government ever wants to believe that they could EVER be wrong, but this one needed a reality check because the chaos was incredible.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed that at this time period everything that England fought for was in vain. Habeas Corpus was repealed which allowed for people to be arrested for no reason. I found this contradictory to the government that England had before this turmoil. It seemed that the government was working for the people only . Also, the fact that they were not allowed to hold these public meetings was absurd because these people should have had the right to do that. The peoples rights were restricted.
ReplyDeleteEnglands government was one that was fair to the people. A constitutional monarchy that allowed for the representation of all men as equals was what they had earned. Many other nations strived to reach their peace, which made this fall comical. They are like a horrible drug addict who defeated their addiction, but then got a taste of the old ways and all their new ideals went out the window. The people were held down by society, then giving equal rights. The government took away a right or two, then went for the gold in a terrible relapse.
ReplyDeleteCome with us, your under arrest! they kicked in my door and dragged me out as they accused me of plotting to blow up the entire English cabinet. I returned with a barage of curses and kicks as they hauled me away. It all started years ago after the war and Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. The economy was based on war and when it ended all the soldiers and factory workers found themselves unemployed this coupled with the horrible harvest made everything cost more. The real problems started when that rotten establishment "parliament" decided to sprint to the right wing ideals and remove the taxes from the rich deciding instead to tax everyone equally through sales tax. They also decided to help out their big business buddies and make it illegal for us normal folks to form unions and demand a fair treatment. Everyone and their brother wanted reform but the main crusaders for justce were Cobett, Henry Hunt, and John Cartwright. Eventually the government tried to silence us through the coercion acts but that only proved our point as they suspended haebius corpus. All the tension boiled over at our demestration at St. Petersburg church as the local militiia started advancing on us like it was a battlefeild. They killed 11 in their wake and left over 600 injured. The final straw that put me over the top was the six acts that were basically the government shutting us up. That is why my self and a group of fellow liberals planned this statement and Thistlewood was our leader. Am i mad i got caught yes would i do it again ? in a heartbeat liberty for all!!! i have to go now the noose is ready
ReplyDelete