What Was The Peterloo Massacre?

The early 19th century was marked by unrest and riots as people protested against high prices and unemployment. Especially great anger was provoked by the Corn Laws of 1815. These imposed high taxes on imported grain; intended to protect British farmers, they had the effect of increasing the price of bread. Further hardship was imposed by the spread of new technology such as power looms, which eventually helped bring prosperity to the country but caused terrible suffering to workers who lost their livelihood. Demonstrations, demands for reform and even machine-wrecking were frequent; and the Government, terrified that the English might follow their French neighbours into revolution, often responded savagely. The most shocking example was a demonstration in St Peter's Field, Manchester, in 1819. This peaceful rally, where people gathered to hear speeches on Parliamentary reform, was charged by the army, who killed eleven participants and wounded hundreds more. The massacre became ironically known as Peterloo after the battle of Waterloo in 1815.