History Extra podcast Peterloo: the story of a massacre
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Aug 15, 2019 Robert Poole, a historian and author, discusses the pivotal 1819 Peterloo Massacre, a crucial moment in 19th-century radicalism. He highlights the rampant inequality and unrest in Britain post-Napoleonic Wars that fueled the Manchester demonstration. Poole delves into how authorities prepared to suppress the rally, leading to the violent cavalry charge. He also addresses the aftermath, the shock across the nation, and the long-term impacts on reform movements, emphasizing Peterloo's legacy as a pro-democracy event that shaped political discourse.
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Peterloo Was A Pro-Democracy Massing
- The Peterloo rally was a massive peaceful pro-democracy meeting demanding manhood suffrage.
- Magistrates used local yeomanry and troops to break it up, turning troops on their own citizens.
Economic Pain Fueled Political Reform
- Post-war Britain suffered deep economic pain, with high food prices and unemployment after long wars.
- Reformers argued these problems required political change because Parliament protected elite interests like the Corn Laws.
Manchester: New Industry, Old Government
- Manchester was economically advanced but governed by archaic local institutions and high-Tory elites.
- That mismatch intensified grievances and distrust between working people and authorities.
