On 16th August 1819, 60,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Field in Manchester to peacefully demand the reform of parliamentary representation. Around 700 were injured when the yeomanry and cavalry charged the crowd. This came to be known as the Peterloo Massacre. and is seen as a symbol of fight for public protest
here are a few resources for academic research
Contemporary accounts.
Historic editions of Hansard can be used to get a sense of the political background at the time and the threat that was felt from events such as the French revolution causing uprisings in the Uk.
Lord Sidmouth suspended the right to Habeas Corpus on 24th Feb 1817.
Henry Hunt's petition against suppression of Mass meetings was also made on this days (scroll down the page) to see his view that the authorities saw all mass meetings as seditious and a threat.
Peterloo witness project
has transcribed over 350 witness accounts from eyewitnesses. these were taken from trials and coroners reports.
They include the trial of orator Henry Hunt the speaker at the event
the testimony of Martha Kearsley at the inquest displays treatment of the crowd and also concerns about how female and other witnesses were spoken to at formal inquests and inquiries subsequently.
Indeed ion 15th May 1821 concerns were raised in parliament by Sir Francis Burdett that a full investigation had not taken place and it ought to.
Contemporary reaction can also be gauged in the publication of satirical pamphlets such as the famous Who killed Cock Robin
there were also cartoons and satire. by figures such as Cruikshank. Some images of some good examples on the British Library website. the BL also has some digitised newspaper cuttings with responses.
Primary source websites
Peterloo 1819 has an interactive timeline maps and transcribed victims accounts,
Manchester University has digitised a number of items including. It includes a full run of the radical newspaper, the Manchester Observer and the Peterloo Relief Fund book. Recognised by UNESCO on the UK Memory of the World Register, it lists names, addresses and injuries of those caught up in the massacre and monies received.
Peoples Museum Manchester has an online exhibition on protest with images of some of their items from its collections and discussion of the Peterloo story.
National Archives has an online teaching resource covering protest 1818-1820 which has marvellous online images of original documents including government reports and manuscripts as well as prints.
Indeed ion 15th May 1821 concerns were raised in parliament by Sir Francis Burdett that a full investigation had not taken place and it ought to.
Contemporary reaction can also be gauged in the publication of satirical pamphlets such as the famous Who killed Cock Robin
there were also cartoons and satire. by figures such as Cruikshank. Some images of some good examples on the British Library website. the BL also has some digitised newspaper cuttings with responses.
Primary source websites
Manchester University has digitised a number of items including. It includes a full run of the radical newspaper, the Manchester Observer and the Peterloo Relief Fund book. Recognised by UNESCO on the UK Memory of the World Register, it lists names, addresses and injuries of those caught up in the massacre and monies received.
Peoples Museum Manchester has an online exhibition on protest with images of some of their items from its collections and discussion of the Peterloo story.
National Archives has an online teaching resource covering protest 1818-1820 which has marvellous online images of original documents including government reports and manuscripts as well as prints.
Women at Peterloo.
History Workshop has called for more research on female political reformers.
Mary Fildes and other key women from the Manchester Female reform society were in the crowd. The Peoples Museum has a section to give a brief overview
Royal Holloway college has this youtube video on the petition of Mary Fildes to parliament
it forms part of a wider MOOC course.on FutureLearn
The Manchester university digital collection has satirical comment from the Manchester comet which shows how female reformers were viewed
The National Archives has an open letter written in July 1819 to a Manchester newspaper The Manchester Female Reformers’ Address
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