How Effective was Government Response to Radical Protest 1790-1819

How Effective was Gov Response to Radicalism? 

Trial of leaders of the LCS and suspension of Habeus Corpus 

• In 1793 government arrested leaders of LCS and SCI as they viewed a meeting they called 'seditious'
• Trials took place towards the end of 1794, 
• Habeus Corpus suspended in 1794
• However all evidence was either invented or flimsy, so all accused were acquitted
• LCS at its height had 5,000 members
• After trial key leaders withdrew from radical politics 

Treason Act 1795 and Seditious Meetings Act 1795

• Treason Act in 1795 made it treason to even threaten parliament, made call for parliamentry reform treason 
• Seditious meetings act of 1795, act restricted size of meetings to only 50 people, unless…