Thesis Based Paper

Question Why didn’t England suffer the same kind of turmoil in the mid 19 th Century as other European Countries

Thesis While England hardly had full enfranchisement it did not suffer the turmoil of the mid 19 th Century that other European countries did because it passed laws that were responsive to the population. In contrast, European countries were often repressive and still held onto their conservative, ancien regime ways

Alternative Much of the turmoil in Europe was over issues such as nationality which was resolved by Britain in the early 18 th Century when they took control of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Moreover, England’s head start in the Industrial Revolution meant that by the mid- 19 th Century the population was already realizing significant economic benefits.

What I’ll need to research Turmoil in Europe in the mid 19 th Century – 1830 and 1848 Revolutions – Responsiveness and reactions of European Governments prior to and during the unrest – Economic issues Industrialization, poverty – Social Issues Ethnicity and nationalism

What Else? Legal, Social and Economic issues in Great Britain in the 19 th Century – Early industrialization Short History of the rise of Agricultural and Industrial Revolution Treatment of workers- Attempts at Unionization – Laws passed by Parliament to quell turmoil – Specific incidents- Peterloo Massacre » Reaction Six Acts

GB Government Representative Government? – Background to GB government in the 19 th Century Limited Monarchy – Revolutions of 1640s and 1688 – Rise of Parliament – Role of the Prime Minister and Monarch Representative Government – House of Lords – House of Commons » How did one get elected to the House of Commons? Rotten Boroughs- non-representative government Limited Enfranchisement- propertied

Responsive Government Change in the 1820s and 1830s – Reaction to Parliament’s study of working conditions in Factory First laws protecting workers – 1832 Reform Act Expanded the franchise- though in a limited way- still propertied but nonetheless 10s of 1000s of men could now vote – Repeal of the Corn Laws Parliament ended the tariff on grain coming into the country, thereby allowing the price of food products to drop significantly – Revocation of the Six Acts Allowed expanded Freedom of Speech and Assembly

Other Chartist Movement in the 1840s – Moved to expand the Franchise, get rid of non- representative districts and other limits to a less representative government – Failed but allowed people to vent. Government did not trample on the Chartist movement but allowed it to suffer its own death. Unionization allowed. Trade Unions proliferated and started to participate in the democratic process

Economic Benefits reached A new middle class was forming as managers and other “white collar” jobs started to form – Created a true “middle-class”. Less likely to revolt. – Consumer Goods proliferated Wedgewood China, Harrod’s and other higher end goods allowed people to gain some of the benefits of the IR

Continental Europe 1820s repressive laws passed to stop liberal, radical and nationalist movements – Karlsbad Decrees- in German States – Trade Unions not allowed to form – Guilds powers were restricted Metternich and others placed conservative, reactionary regimes in power – France was considering forcing peasants to pay for the land taken during the French Revolution 30+ yrs earlier 1830s and 1840s witnessed significant Rebellions – 1830sIn Belgium, France and other areas Some rebellions were economic in nature, others nationalistic – Liberals, radicals and nationalists often allied with one another early on » Mazzini in Italy » Bourgoeisis in France – Exiled and imprisoned outspoken persons and leaders Karl Marx immigrated to London – 1848 widespread rebellions Catalyst- Economic Crisis – Restrictions on freedom of Assembly in France by the Louis Philippe Government – Demands for Nationalism in Italy, Germany and Hungary Karl Marx writes the Communist Manifesto