"The weakness of the radical movement was the most important reason why Pitt survived the revolutionary threat to his government in the period 1789-1801" Do you agree?
“The weakness of the radical movement was the most important reason why Pitt survived the revolutionary threat to his government in the period 1789-1801” Do you agree?
The radical movement was sparked off when two writers of this period - Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine - aired their differing opinions. These opinions caused a debate, which went on to create many revolutionary movements and organisations. Paine's book - 'The Rights of Man' - led to the creation of the London Corresponding Society, founded by Thomas Hardy in 1792. This radical movement threatened Pitt's authority. Soon there were many movements, meetings being held and leaflets published about reform. This sudden demand for reform worried the government.
The radicals seemed a threat to government, with war disturbing trade and the increase in taxes for the middle and working classes. The poor harvests and increase in taxes caused an increase in food prices. Together with lower wages, things became harder for the middle and working class. This aided the radical movements to spread the word, as they had an audience ready to listen to them due to the circumstances they were in. Corresponding Societies, however, seemed the biggest threat. The London Corresponding Society was a threat, as it called for radical changes within the government, and also because their popularity was growing within the working class, which could put pressure on the government. Conventions held in Edinburgh were seen as a threat as they seemed to have their own alternative government. Corresponding Societies soon sprung up everywhere. In 1792, The Sheffield Society for Constitutional Information brought 5-6000 people onto the streets to celebrate the French victory at Valmy. In 1794, the same amount of people were on the streets to press for peace abroad and liberty at home. These groups could have been seen as a threat, as they had large memberships - the LCS had 3000 members in 1794. They corresponded regularly with each other and groups in France. However, despite appearances, the threat was reduced for a number of reasons: the membership numbers were falling - from 3000 to 400, due to government repression. In 1798 the LCS was banned altogether; the government persuaded Parliament to pass a Corresponding Societies Act. It was now illegal for the LCS to meet and the organisation came to an end.
