Key Legislation- The Six Acts (1819)

These Acts were passed in response to unrest and radicalism in Britain, for example Peterloo in August of 1819. Below is a brief explanation of each act.

Training Prevention Act

• Made any person in a group to do training or for drills liable to be arrested 
• If found guilty, offenders could be sentenced to seven years imprisonment, usually taken out in Australia

Seizure of Arms Act

• Gave power to Magistrates to search any property/person for arms
• Reason why gun control in Britain is still very strict

Seditious Meeting Prevention Act

• Prevented public gatherings of 50 people or more
• If a meeting this big was required, permission from the Sheriff or a Magistrate had to be given
• In response to uprisings- government wanted to prevent any more

Misdemeanours Act 

• An attempt to reduce the delays in administrating justice 

Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act

• Stronger punishments for those judged to have been blasphemous or seditious 
• For example, banishment

Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act

• Radical publications had avoided stamp duty by publishing them as opinion 
• Now subject to sentencing