The Industrial Revolution
After the Napoleonic
Wars ended in 1815, the government introduced legislation - the 'Corn Laws' - to
limit the amount of cheap wheat that could be imported, so that the price of
cereals and bread would be kept artificially high and so protect farmers'
profits. In 1816, a bad harvest pushed prices so high that there were strikes
and food riots all over the country. The Corn Laws fuelled the clamour for
parliamentary reform. Again, rather than make any concessions, the authorities
tried to suppress the anger of those who had no legitimate way of making their
demands.