Radicalism and Reaction: 1815-1827

I. Introduction: Winning the Peace

II. Causes of Radicalism after 1815

A. Economic Hardships

1. Unemployment

2. Drop in Demand

3. Poor Harvests

B. Liverpool’s Responses

1. Abolishing the Income Tax

2. Corn Law (1815)

III. Growth of Radicalism

A. Unsure Beginnings

1. Newspapers vs. Organizations

2. Spa Fields Riot (1816)

3. ‘Peterloo’ Massacre (1819)

IV. Liberal Toryism and Liverpool

A. Explaining the Success of Liverpool (1812-1827)

B. Period of ‘Liberal Toryism’(1822-1827)

1. ‘Repeal’ of the Combination Acts (1824)

2. Reforming Ministers

a. George Canning: Foreign Secretary (1822-1827)

b. Robert Peel: Home Secretary (1822-1827)

c. William Huskisson: President of the Board of Trade (1823-1827)

C. ‘Return’ to the Gold Standard (1821)

D. Moves towards Liberalization of Trade

V. Conclusion: Unresolved Issues

Key Terms

Treaty of Vienna

Corn Law

William Cobbett’s Political Register

Hampden Clubs

Spa Fields Riot

Lord Liverpool

Combination Acts

Robert Peel

George Canning

William Huskisson

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