A
Corn Law was first introduced in Britain in 1804, when the landowners,
who dominated Parliament, sought to protect their profits by imposing
a duty on imported corn. During the Napoleonic
Wars it had not been possible to import corn from Europe. This
led to an expansion of British wheat farming and to high bread prices.
Farmers feared that when the war came to an end in 1815, the importation
of foreign corn would lower prices. This fear was justified and the
price of corn reached fell from 126s. 6d. a quarter in 1812 to 65s.
7d. three years later. British landowners applied pressure on members
of the House of Commons to take action
to protect the profits of the farmers. Parliament responded by passing
a law permitting the import of foreign wheat free of duty only when
the domestic price reached 80 shillings per quarter (8 bushels). During
the passing of this legislation, the Houses of Parliament had to be
defended by armed troops against a large angry crowd.
This legislation was hated by the people living in Britain's fast-growing
towns who had to pay these higher bread prices. The industrial classes
saw the Corn Laws as an example of how Parliament passed legislation
that favoured large landowners. The manufacturers in particular was
concerned that the Corn Laws would result in a demand for higher wages.
There was a dreadful harvest in 1816. This caused bread prices to
increase rapidly. This was followed by industrial
unrest as workers demanded higher wages in order to pay for the
increased food prices. As well as strikes there were food riots all
over Britain.
The Corn Laws had an important political impact on Manchester.
It was one of the main reasons why the group of middle-class moderate
reformers began meeting at the home of John
Potter. It also influenced working class radicals
and the Corn Laws was one of the main issues that was to be addressed
at the meeting that they had organised at St.
Peter's Field on 16th August, 1819.
(1)
Archibald Prentice, Historical Sketches
and Personal Recollections of Manchester (1851)
The
manufacturers had opposed the corn bill, because they believed that
rising the price of food would raise the wages of labour, and thus
prevent their competition with the manufacturers of other countries.
(2)
Resolution against the Corn Laws passed by manufacturers in Manchester
on 23rd February, 1815.
A
large exportation of our manufactures is absolutely necessary to their
support, and their sale in foreign markets can be insured only by
their superiority and cheapness. The proposed restrictions on the
importation of corn must materially raise its price. No policy can
be more short-sighted or unjust, than that which would redress the
temporary grievances of a part of the community, by permanently sacrificing
the best interests of the whole.
(3)
Samuel Bamford, Passages in the Life
of a Radical (1843)
A
series of disturbances commenced with the introduction of the Corn
Bill in 1815 and continued, with short intervals, until the close
of 1816. In London and Westminster riots ensued and were continued
for several days; at Bridport there were riots on account of the
high price of bread; at Bideford there were similar disturbances
to prevent the export of grain; at Bury by the unemployed to destroy
machinery; at Newcastle-on-Tyne by colliers and others; at Glasgow,
where blood was shed, on account of soup kitchens; at Preston, by
unemployed weavers; at Nottingham by Luddites who destroyed 30 frames;
at Merthyr Tydvil, on a reduction of wages; at Birmingham by the
unemployed; at Walsall by the distressed; and December 7th, 1816,
at Dundee, where, owing to the high price of meal, upwards of 100
shops were plundered.
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