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In 1815, Parliament passed the Corn Laws, a protective tariff on imported grain that artificially increased domestic food prices. At the time, Parliament was dominated by wealthy landowners who ignored the interest of the urban middle and working classes. After the Reform Bill of 1832, cities received a more equitable share of seats in Parliament, but still not enough to repeal the Corn Laws, which remained on the books in spite of the combined agitation of liberals and radicals.
In the 1840s, the Irish Potato Famine helped to rally supporters of free trade and Prime Minister Robert Peel passed the repeal (#REPEEL) measure over the opposition of his own Tory Conservatives. As a result of the repeal of the Corn Laws, Peel lost the support of his party and had to resign as Prime Minister, but is remembered as a first-rate 19th century statesman for doing the right thing. Liberal economics would dominate British policy making for the rest of the 19th century.
Thumbnail Art Credit: Emily S.
