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How close did Britain come to revolution at Peterloo?. By the end of the lesson you will: Be able to describe the overview of events Explain the causes of the event Analyse the consequences of the event. http://timelines.tv/index.php?t=1&e=12 7.75 mins.
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How close did Britain come to revolution at Peterloo? By the end of the lesson you will: Be able to describe the overview of events Explain the causes of the event Analyse the consequences of the event
Source A: From the Manchester Chronicle, 21 August 1819. This newspaper was on the side of the government. When Mr Hunt arrived the crowd clapped loudly. Soon there was confusion. There was a crush and people cried out and shouted. An army officer was hit on the forehead with a brick. The soldiers were not to blame for all the deaths. No one thought that people would bring weapons to the meeting, but they did. Many people had their pockets full of stones. Source C: John Smith, a journalist, who was at Peterloo. Smith worked for the Liverpool Mercury which was in favour of working people getting the vote. I saw no one lift up sticks to the soldiers. If any stones had been thrown I would have seen it. I am over six feet high and I was able to see everything that happened. I heard no swearing and no violence from the crowd. Mr Hunt had just started his speech when the soldiers charged into the crowd forcing them to the ground and crushing the people. Questions 1.Who does source A blame for the deaths? Give reasons 2.Who does source C blame for the deaths? Give reasons? 3.How does source B support source C? 4.How are the soldiers portrayed in source B? 5.How useful is source B to a historian studying what happened at Peterloo? Explain your answer. (Remember to think about what it shows, how reliable it is, what else s/he would need to get a full picture etc.). Your answer should be at least a paragraph.
The causes, events and consequences of the day. • Use the slides which follow to bullet point the main events of the story.
In 1819 life in the Industrial Towns was harsh • The working people were not allowed to vote for the Members of Parliament; • At the time less than 2% of the population had the right to vote; • All the MPS were farmers and landowners and they were not interested in helping poor workers to improve their living and working conditions.
Conditions in the Cities were grim... • Bread prices were high; • There was unemployment; • Working conditions, hours and wages were poor; • Most people in the cities lived in terrible poverty; • Working people wanted to be able to vote, so that they would have MPs in Parliament, to speak for them.
There were ‘Radicals’ who wanted to change things... • In March 1819 the Manchester Patriotic Union Society was formed; • Leading Radicals (people who wanted change) were invited to join; • A meeting was organised for 16th August at St Peter’s Field in Manchester; • The meeting was to discuss the need for change, to allow working people the right to vote.
The reaction in Manchester • As soon as they heard about the meeting, the local Magistrates were worried about a large group of reformers gathering together; • They were concerned that the meeting would end in a riot; • They arranged for a large force to be in Manchester on the day of the meeting; made up of infantry soldiers, cavalrymen, Royal Horse Artillery, and the Manchester Special Constables.
Who went to speak at Peterloo? • The main speaker was HENRY HUNT; • A radical politician and a great speaker; • He was a radical candidate for Parliament and wanted the vote for all men, annual parliaments and a secret ballot; • He wanted to end child labour and a ten hour working day.
Who went to listen at Peterloo? • The crowd at Peterloo was made up of families; • They carried banners and were dressed in their best clothes; • Henry Hunt’s speech called for working people to be given the vote; • Almost 60,000 people attended, many walked from as far away as Liverpool, Preston and Bolton.
The meeting • The main speakers, including Henry Hunt, arrived at 1.20pm; • Magistrates were concerned at the size of the growing crowd; • By 1.30pm the Magistrates decided the town was in great danger and ordered that Hunt and the other leaders should be arrested;
The Army goes in... • On orders from the Magistrates, the army entered St Peter’s Field by a path cleared by Special Constables; • Members of the crowd linked arms to stop Hunt being arrested; • The soldiers started to use their sabres, (swords), to cut through the crowd; • By 2pm most of the crowd had fled; • 15 people were dead, 400 more had been wounded; some had had their hands or arms cut off in the process.
Soldiers on horseback crushed many in the crowd; • Swinging their sabres, the soldiers chopped indiscriminately at the people; • There was a terrible panic; • People screaming and crying; • Many were women and children; • By 2pm most of the crowd had fled; • 15 people were dead, 600 more had been wounded; some had had their hands or arms cut off in the process or their heads chopped at by the swords...
What happened after Peterloo? • The Home Secretary wrote a letter to the Manchester Magistrates, to congratulate them for the action they had taken; • Parliament did nothing to give the vote to the ordinary people; • Instead they passed 6 acts to try to ensure that reform meetings like Peterloo could not happen again.
What happened after Peterloo? • Organisers of the meeting were charged with “assembling with unlawful banners at an unlawful meeting for the purpose of exciting discontent.” • Henry Hunt was sent to prison for 2years 6 months and other leaders were given 1 year sentences. • No action was taken against any of the soldiers who had killed the people in the crowd.
The Government tried to control what people heard about the massacre • They tried to stop the newspapers from printing what had really happened; • The facts began to leak out; • Many people were horrified – especially because over 100 women had been wounded by the soldiers.
‘Peterloo’ The massacre became known as ‘Peterloo’, because it happened at Peter’s Fields and because the last time the British army had fought a proper enemy was the Battle of Waterloo
Peterloo remembered... • Until 2007 there was a blue plaque on the wall in Manchester, on Peter Street, to remember what had happened... • In a moment you can look at the plaque, and when you do, think about what it says and whether it is an accurate description of Peterloo.
The site of St Peter’s Fields where on 16th August 1819 Henry Hunt, radical orator addressed an assembly of about 60,000 people their subsequent dispersal by the military is remembered as Peterloo. What does it say? Is it an accurate description of Peterloo?
What does ‘dispersal’ mean? • The Peterloo Group organised a long campaign to have a proper memorial to the massacre; • The memorial has been agreed in principle by the Manchester Council, but it has not been built yet; • However, this year a new red plaque has replaced the old blue one, in a moment you will see it, think about what it says and whether it is a more accurate description of Peterloo.
St Peter’s Fields The Peterloo Massacre On 16th August 1819 a peaceful rally of 60,000 pro-democracy reformers, men, women and children were attacked by armed cavalry resulting in 15 deaths and over 600 injuries. What does it say? Is it a more accurate description of Peterloo?
Summing up Peterloo • You are now going to write an article outlining what happened at Peterloo. • Include opinions from different perspectives • Weigh up how close Britain came to revolution at this event
How close did Britain come to revolution at Peterloo? Now check that you have: Described the overview of events Explained the causes of the event Analysed the consequences of the event
