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Britain was left In a state of great economic depression and was in debt of around IEEE million, despite moral being high after Victory against Napoleon. Lord Liverpool and his government faced the momentous task of carrying Britain through a time of depression but also keeping up with the vast Industrialization that was spreading across the country. In early 1 9th century Britain, law enforcement e. . The police, was unheard of, this “as a problem for Lord Liverpool government due to the fact that there was no hassle means of controlling activity on a public level. When rebellions began to take place and started occurring more frequently Liverpool decided that something needed to be done. As a response, particularly to Spa fields, Liverpool imposed the Suspension of Habeas Corpus’ in 1817. This suspension along with the Seditious meetings act worked as a short-term deterrent to protesters and due to its severity of enmeshment, meant that it was particularly effective at stopping any form of revolt.
The physical protesting was bad enough for Lord Liverpool, however it was only small part of why he imposed reactionary measure; a large part of it was down to fear and paranoia. In 1789 Lord Liverpool had been in France and witnessed firsthand the storming of the Pastille. The fall of the Pastille signified the fall of order, power and structure of the hierarchy in France; this was exactly what Liverpool was most afraid of happening in England, and that people would turn against the overspent the country and each other.
In 1819 60,000 people met at Petrol’ to listen to Henry Hunt talk about reforms, it was a peaceful protest that went wrong. Cavalry had been sent by magistrates who feared there would be a revolution due to the sheer amount of people, magistrates lost their nerve and sent in the cavalry causing major panic- 11 people were killed and over 400 injured. As a response the Six Acts was introduced giving magistrates powers to invade people’s privacy If they ever suspected any conspiracy or plot to create a mass gathering, it provided more representative actions to stop people in their tracks.
Lord Liverpool paranoia meant that he was transfixed on keeping control on power, an Idea that could be considered as the root of his reactionary policies. In response to the Coat Street conspiracy and the Derbyshire risings spies were used Infiltrate radical groups. Spies enabled the government to stay one step ahead of the protesters. Staying in power was vital for Liverpool, he was very aristocratic and most of his reactionary policies benefited those of higher classes; as they provided the cost political support for Lord Liverpool.
By using spies there was the allusion that the government were out to protect the monarchy and the aristocracy, further building support for Lord Liverpool. It also gave Liverpool means of keeping tabs on no law enforcement so spies were used instead. During the first half of this ministry the cabinet consisted of eighteenth century politicians who were unwilling or unable to see the need to alter a constitution which benefited them, yet still wanted to have total control over the people of England; this
Nas virtually impossible when the rate of expansion, industry and rebellion was so fast. It wasn’t until the second half of this period, with the influence of younger men from different backgrounds and of differing outlooks, that major reform took place. Liverpool followed reactionary policies with the sole intention of them to be short- term fixes in society, made as a response to rebellions that were simply unheard of in retain at this time. The main driving force behind these policies being made was
Liverpool paranoia of a revolution occurring fuelling his need to keep and maintain control over the people of Britain. Liverpool also had to contend with the fact that he had never planned to come across such anger and desire for change that he had to think quickly to put measures in place that would make a difference, whether they be harsh or not. They were simple a means of gaining control and power back over the people so some reformations could be made without the imminent threat of revolution, as was thought by Lord Liverpool.