Why were the Corn Laws repealed in 1846?

Protectionists vs. Peelites.

In 1846, the Conservative Party split into two factions. The Protectionists, under Lord Bentinck, wanted to keep the Corn Laws whereas the Peelites supported free trade. Supported by the Whigs, Peel repealed the Corn Laws. The decision was the natural culmination of Peel's financial and trade policy. In his budgets from 1842 to 285, he reduced or removed hundreds of tariffs on goods. Eventually, Britain would be a free trade country and the Corn Laws would be repealed.

Anti-Corn Law League: Peel and his government faced constant pressure to repeal the Corn Laws from the Anti-Corn Law League. This pressure group…