Social and Economic Conditions in Britain 1793–1822

Abstract

In 1789 the French lower and middle classes, dissatisfied with their conditions and the absolute rule of the monarch, rose in rebellion. France was plunged into chaos which culminated in the King, Louis XVI, being guillotined by his own subjects in 1793; this was the French Revolution. European countries with monarchies were horrified at these events and declared war on France, including Britain. Eventually, Napoleon, the French Emperor, was beaten in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Thus, Britain was at war with France for a period of 22 years, with a brief gap of six months’ peace in 1801–2. Although no fighting took place on British soil, the war inevitably had economic and social effects for the nation. The immediate post-war years between 1815 and 1822 brought a period of ‘distress and discontent’ and growing demands for the reform of Parliament.