Why did Liverpool adopt a policy of repression 1812-1822?

Reason

• Liverpool had witnessed the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789
• Liverpool's Government feared a revolution situation may develop
• Cato Street conspiracy 1820

However

• There was no serious threat of a revolutionary situation in 1812-22
• There was no active revolutionary group ready to take over
• There was no loss of nerve on the part of the ruiling elite
• The army remained loyal

Reason

• Spread of radical literature and ideas through the radical press
• Fear of the spread of radical and revolutionary ideas amongst the working class
• Radical activity, protests and riots throughout the period

However

• Radical activity was not revolutionary
• In many cases the protests simply wanted to highlight their plight through marches and petitions
• Radicals were reformists rather than revolutionary
• Radicals were divided and did not constitute a coherent group

Reason

• Government's main focus was maintaining law and order
• No professional police force, only use of spies, informers, agent provocateurs and army. This was to maintian law and order
• Government wanted to show the power of the state to deter protestors from radical or revolutionary ideas

However

• The government mistook anger over poverty and living conditions for revolutionary activity
• The government acted accordingly considering the number, scope and complexity of promblems it faced
• The government had few law and order options available to it
• The government deployed the army effectively in troubled areas
• Use of agent provocateurs to disrupt movements, it was a preventative measure
• When the economy improved the Government did introduce some reforms
• Early 19th century governments didn't have the resources or organization to deal with hunger, poverty and unemployment

Reason

• Protect the dominance of the aristocracy and the status quo
• Prevent any Parliamentary Reform
• Middle Class sided with the aristocracy against the working class

However

• This was a wider strategy adopted by the Tory Party at the time and not just a repsonse to Post War Distress and Discontent
• Many of the measures taken by the government were temporary for the situation and not intended to be permanent changes to laws of the country

Reason

• Liverpool had adopted a policy of repression that had worked for Pitt the Younger in the 1790s

However

• Lack of originality
• Liverpool simply maintained many of Pitt's repressive policies at the end of the war e.g. Combination Acts 1799/1800