The British Revolution. Could the Radicals have forced a revolution 1815-1837?

Hi :) I have recently been studying britain during the early 19th century and have wondered if the serious unrest could actually have started a revolution.

-

From the start of the industrial revolution till the political reforms in in the 1830's, Britain was in turmoil. Economic and social distress, massive population growth, demands or electoral reform an widespread disturbances, protests and riots.

Problems facing the government in 1815 -

  1. Unemployment due to mechanisation.
  2. Unsustainable growth in indusrial towns (overcrowding, poor sanitation)
  3. Corn prices/ Corn laws
  4. Industrial slump at end of napoleonic war
These initial problems begun generations of unrest and instability. After the french revolution, the electoral system of britain was scrutinised more than ever. The rich asistocracy were in effect the only people able to vote or be elected into parliament. They did not support universal sufferage.


The growing middle classes suh as factory owners, who were increasingly gaining control of the economy, wanted the vote. The lower classes, who felt it was their right as taxpayers, wanted the vote.


On the 16 August 1819, a crowd of about 60,000 people gathered on St. Peter's field in manchester, calling for political reform. Even though they were peaceful, the local magistrates called in soldiers to disperce them, causing the 'Peterloo Massacre'.



For the next 20 years, protests, riots and various other actions nearly forced Britain into a revolution.



My question is, what if the radicals and government actually begun o openly fight? The people supported reform. Could we see a revolutionary Great Britain? It would be nice if you can put some details into your answers :)



Sorry about my writing, Im not very good at posing questions.


--


So yeah. Would england fall into its second civil war? What would a revolutionary government look like? Would the monarcy be abolished? How would the rest of europe react?
 
If there's no Catholic Emancipation League there's less pressure on Wellington to pass the Great Reform Act and thus likely more middle class discontent. Coupled with continuing economic problems there could be a revolution in the mid 1830s, I suppose.
 
Well, that settles it. In Vive le Canada, it will go the Canadien Revolution, the New England Revolution, the Southern Revolution, the French Revolution, and the British Revolution.
 
Well, that settles it. In Vive le Canada, it will go the Canadien Revolution, the New England Revolution, the Southern Revolution, the French Revolution, and the British Revolution.
That's quite a few conflicts in a short span of years, and mostly on the same continent.
 
if a revoltuion in great brtiian were to have happened, then theres a likly hood that the entire continent wouldve gone up...

continental europe at the time was much worse and if great brtiian fell (which at the time, was stillt he most liberal country there), then theres a high chance that the 1848 revolutions wouldve happend then...probaly with greater sucess
 
Hmm, in that link Faeelin you'll see you'll look at the 1830s and 1840s phases "in turn," but you never do. Could you go back and finish up on that, as I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Sure; I won't get a chance to do this for another couple of weeks, but I will do so.
 
if a revoltuion in great brtiian were to have happened, then theres a likly hood that the entire continent wouldve gone up...

continental europe at the time was much worse and if great brtiian fell (which at the time, was stillt he most liberal country there), then theres a high chance that the 1848 revolutions wouldve happend then...probaly with greater sucess

Long term predictions?
 
ot really...if you look at the otl 1848 revolutions youll see that it spread aroud europe within weeks...id imagine the same thing if a revolution happened in great britain

So are you saying most if not all of Europe could be without monarchies by the late 1800's? From what i have rsearched, the king had little to do involving the troubles. It was more about the electoral system, rotton boroughs, universal sufferage etc...
 
Top