A Series of Reforms Spread Through Out Britain

1. A Series of Reforms Spread Through Out Britain By: Yvette, Makenna, Matt, Brock

2. Free Trade A political cartoon favoring free trade • Free Trade was a controversial issue in the 1800’s Britain’s Parliament • In the early 1800’s Britain taxed foreign imports. • Some tariffs were repealed in the 1820’s but the “Corn Laws” were still in effect.

3. Adam Smith Most people for free trade were middle class business men . Almost all of them agreed with Adam Smith and his idea of laissez faire.

4. Corn Laws • People broke out at Corn Laws which imposed high tariffs. • These tariffs were on things such as grain, wheat, barley, and oats. • Farmers and wealthy landowners supported them due to grain price rising. • Finally Corn Laws were repealed in 1846. Anti-Corn Law League

5. Campaign Against Slavery • 1700’s British ships carried more African slaves then any other European country. • 1807 Britain became first European country to abolish slave trade. • 1833 Parliament passed a law banning slavery in all British colonies. Anti-Slavery Soceity Enlightment thinkers’ poster

6. Crime and Punishment Penal Colonies • Some reforms were pointed directly to the criminal justice system. • 2,000 crimes were punished by death in the 1800’s. • Some jurors refused to convict criminals due to the harsh punishments. • Reforms reduced capital offenses. • Petty crimes were sent to penal colonies.

7. Important Vocabulary Free trade- Trade between countries without out tariffs, quotas, or any other restrictions. Repeal- Cancel Abolishment movement- The campaign against slavery and slave trade. Capital offenses- Crimes punishable by death. Penal colonies- Settlements for convicts.