Key Events- March of The Blanketeers (1817)

This demonstration was organised by radicals in Manchester to show their anger caused by the deteriorating state of the textile industry, and in an effort to suspend habeas corpus which made court trials unfair. They made a petition which they hoped to give to the Prince Regent. The large crowds were broken up using force and violence and the ring leaders convicted and imprisoned. 

Before

• Wages of those in the textile towns of the North dropped- traditional hand-loom weavers were impacted the most as factories flourished
• The French Revolution and the increase in radicalism in Britain lead to people being influenced and inspired 
• The Napoleonic War, economic hardship, repressive techniques lead to many radical movements at this time
• March 1817- two prominent radicals from Manchester organised a march to London (Samuel Drummond ad John Bagguley) 
• Wanted to draw people's attention to the level of discontent felt by the suffering workers in the North (e.g. cotton weavers, spinners, etc)
• Planned to march in groups of around 10 which avoid them being accused of mass meeting and convicted 
• Each person would have a blanket on their back and a petition for the Prince Regent
• They would try and gain supporter as they made their way to London

During

• 10th March- 5'000 gathered near Manchester ready to leave on the march to London 
• 27 were arrested before the march even began, including Drummond and Bagguley 
• Several hundred began the march despite this, but were quickly stopped by cavalry 
• Most people who attended were caught and arrested
• Those who were not dropped all together 
• In one town over 200 people were arrested for participating 
• Some were left injured as a result of the cavalries pursuit 
• One bystander ended up being killed in the commotion 
• Some reports state that only one marcher made it to London with their petition

Aftermath

• Many who were arrested ended up being released without trial after varying times in prison 
• Some managed to avoid prison completely 
• It created a fear of revolution throughout the nation- especially to the government who had now been shown explicitly that radicalism was on the rise in Britain 
• In response to these events the Salford Yeomanry were created- these were used in the Peterloo Massacre 2 years later 
• These were divisions of cavalries made up of volunteers and used specially to crush rebellions 
• They tended to support the policies of the Tories