liberal+Tory+reforms,+1822-1830

__**What is "Liberalism"?**__ Believing in freedom, equality and toleration.


 * __Liberal Reforms:__ **

__ Capital offences __ __ Prison Reform __
 * 1820 - juries reluctant to condemn petty criminals to death.
 * Peels reform of criminal record in 1823 and streamlining of criminal law in 1825-1828 = the abolition of 180 capital offences
 * coining (counterfeit coins), breaking into houses and forgery were still capital offences so could still be put in jail or transported.
 * Mp's realised that transportation was more humane but still permanent.
 * Traditional view: Peel's reforms of the prison system is evidence that he was a liberal reformer.
 * __GAOLS ACT - 1823:__
 * Local rate-paid gaols we set up in every county and major town.
 * Prisons inspected by Magistrates annually.
 * Magistrates who took the inspections had to send reports to the Home Office.
 * They made a standard of discipline, medical and educational facilities in prisons.
 * Female prisoners were guarded by female wardens (for the first time)
 * Gaolers were to be paid.
 * Prison chaplains were able to visit prisoners regularly.


 * 1824: classification of prisoners into petty offenders and serious offenders was introduced.

__Other legal reforms__

 * Changed rules over the selection of juries. (1825)
 * Introduced measures designed to streamline criminal law. (1825-28)
 * A total of 7 acts were passed in 1826.
 * More than 3/4 of criminal offences were covered by laws by the time Peel left the Home Office in November 1830.
 * He set up plans of a police force, remarkably similar to the plans of the metrolpolitan police, despite his committee arguing against it.

__A new liberal approach?__

 * Historians argue there was a phase of 'Liberal Toryism' in the period 1822-27They argue Peel was single handedly responsible for re-organising and streamlining criminal law.
 * He removed laws that were barely used and made remaining laws more useful.
 * He reduced the number of capital offences = this suggests he had a liberal outlook, as did his reform of the prison system.
 * Rubenstein describes the 1823 Gaols Act as a 'major reform' and that it led to a significant reduction in executions.
 * He also says that Peel cannot be held responsible for the limitations of his reforms.
 * Some argue that Peel's reform was conservative - they were designed to make the existing system work more efficently, not to change it any fundamental way.

= **__Economic Reforms__** =
 * Economic growth in 1822-27.
 * Number of economic reforms were introduced = suggests that Government was moving away from protection (the placing of tariffs - duties - on imports) and towards free trade.
 * Free trade associated with Liberalism - shows evidence of Liverpool's Government liberalisation after 1822.


 * __ Key Economic Reforms 1822-27: __**
 * __Reduction of duties:__ Lower tariffs on imported goods for consumers and higher profits for manufacturers. Duties on rum, silk, wool etc. 1825 - duties on coal removed and windows - this helped the poor, cut the revenue bureaucracy and helped to stimulate trade and employment.
 * __ Reciprocity of Duties Act (1823) - __ allowed government to negotiate trading terms with individual nations e.g. with Prussia, Sweden, Denmark etc. - These agreements reduced tariffs and increased trade.
 * __ The Navigation Acts: __ Originally passed in 1650, relaxed in 1823. Acts ensured only British Ships could carry goods imported into Britain BUT with their relaxation - trade to and from the colonies were permitted to use non-British shipping, charges on port = reduced and colonial trade restrictions = removed. The result was a freer flow of trade.
 * __ Corn Law Relaxation: __ 1828 - duty on imported corn was introduced to replace the 80 shilling fixed rate. When English corn was produced better - foreign reduced until at 72 shillings - entry was free.


 * __ Evidence of Liberalisation: __**
 * Overwhelming evidence of a liberalisation of economic policy after 1822.
 * The fact that the move towards a more liberal economic approach were being prepared before 1822 suggests there was no decisive break in 1822.
 * Could be argued that government was simply responding to economic conditions - which were given recovery after the end of the French wars - favoured a more liberal approach.

=__ Trade union reform: __=
 * Combination Acts (1799 and 1800) made it illegal for workers to combine with others to improve working conditions or to press for higher wages,
 * Basically, Acts banned both trade unions and strike action.
 * Acts prevented unions being set up.
 * Radical, 'Francis Place' launched a campaign to secure the abolition of the Combination Acts - he recieved support within parliament from Radical MP's such as Sir Francis Burdett and Joseph Hume.
 * Hume persuaded ministers to set up a select committee to look into the subject.

__ The Amending Act __
 * When Combination Acts passed - increase in union activity and strikes.
 * Government responded by setting up 2nd committee which recommended tightening the law.
 * Result was: THE AMENDING ACT OF 1825.
 * This act allowed trade unions to form but made it illegal for them to use any form of force.

__ Evidence of liberalisation? __
 * Relaxation of the ban might seem as evidence of liberalisation.
 * However, 1) Combination acts encouraged strikes
 * 2) 1824 Act accepted Unions should have legal status but it restricted unions freedom of action.
 * 3) As soon as it became clear that workers would take advantage of the new legislation, government back tracked and passed Amending law.
 * This suggests that the aim was to restrict rather than encourage Union activity.
 * It was ILLIBERAL rather than liberal.