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Corn Law Debate 1846
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Corn Law Debate 1846
A scene from the great Corn Law debate in the House of Commons. Date: 1846
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Media ID 20148675
© Bubblepunk
1840s 1846 Commons Corn Debate
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This evocative print captures the intensity and passion of the Great Corn Law Debate that took place in the House of Commons in 1846. The Corn Laws, a set of protectionist tariffs on imported grain, had long been a contentious issue in Britain, with farmers and landowners advocating for their continuation to protect domestic agriculture, while industrialists and free traders argued for their repeal to promote cheaper food prices and economic growth. In this scene, we see a packed House of Commons, with Members of Parliament (MPs) engaged in animated debate. The Speaker of the House, Sir Robert Peel, is shown in the chair, wearing his traditional 18th-century robes, presiding over the proceedings. Peel, a Conservative, had long supported the Corn Laws but had undergone a political transformation and had come to believe that their repeal was necessary for the good of the nation. On the government benches, we see Peel's supporters, including Sir James Graham and Lord Derby, who are shown listening intently to their leader. Across the aisle, the opposition benches are filled with MPs from the Whig and Radical parties, including Joseph Hume and John Bright, who are shown passionately opposing the repeal. The atmosphere in the chamber is electric, with MPs gesticulating and shouting, reflecting the deep divisions in British society at the time. The Great Corn Law Debate was a pivotal moment in British political history, marking the end of protectionist economic policies and the beginning of a new era of free trade. Peel's government eventually passed the repeal bill, which was signed into law on August 22, 1846. The repeal of the Corn Laws had far-reaching consequences, contributing to the growth of the industrial economy and the emergence of a global trading system that would shape the world for generations to come.
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