Examine the impact of the Peterloo Massacre on politics up to 1830.

Candidates should make an appraisal of the impact of the Peterloo Massacre (1819) on political attitudes up to 1830. Candidates may set the context for political agitation, referring to the post-war recession, fluctuating employment levels and high food prices. The immediate impact of Peterloo was to extend the policy of repression with the passage of the Six Acts increasing the power of magistrates to deal with unrest. By the mid 1820s, the Liberal Tories (Peel, Huskisson) were introducing reforms to address some of the causes of agitation. Peel reformed the jails, the Combination Laws were repealed and Huskisson was able to improve trade, thus reducing prices. It could be argued that in the medium term Peterloo led to some liberal policies from the government. It might also be argued that these policies were designed to reduce demand for electoral reform which had been a demand of the demonstrators at Peterloo. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the interrelationship between the Peterloo Massacre and politics up to 1830.