Introduction of the Corn Laws

Illustration of an Anti-Corn Law League rally

British farmers found that they made the most money from farming during the French Wars between 1806 and 1812. During this period, Napoleon stopped wheat from entering Britain and farmers had to produce enough food to feed the population. Farmers could charge high prices and make a good profit because no other wheat was entering the market. When the French Wars came to an end in 1815, many farmers started to panic. They believed that cheaper wheat would arrive from Europe and cause them to lose money.

Many MPs were also landowners so in 1815 they pressurised Parliament into toughening up a set of laws known as the Corn Laws. The aim of the new laws was very simple - they stopped foreign wheat from entering the country until the price of British wheat was 80 shillings a quarter. A different price was set for all the major crops in Britain. This meant that imports of grain from Europe could only enter Britain if landowners and farmers were still making a high profit so, to ensure this took place, Parliament kept the price of wheat artificially high at 80 shillings a quarter.

The effects of the Corn Laws

• The price of British wheat was kept high for four years, but started to fall after 1819.
• By the mid-1820s, British wheat was actually cheaper than before the French Wars started.
• In 1828, William Huskisson reduced the price at which foreign wheat could be allowed into the country to 73 shillings a quarter and a sliding scale was set up that allowed the price of wheat to fluctuate. The price of wheat did not really rise after this and more foreign wheat was imported into the country.
• In 1842, the government was forced once again to reduce the price at which foreign wheat could be allowed into the country to 66 shillings a quarter.
• The price of food was still too high for many working-class people to afford.
• By the mid-1840s the Corn Laws were coming under attack from many people.

Revision tip and answer preparation

Revision tip

Make sure that you are clear about why the Corn Laws were set up. Remember it is important to inform the examiner that MPs had a personal interest in getting the Corn Laws passed because many of them owned farms and wanted to keep making the profits they had started to make during the French Wars.

Answer preparation

As part of your revision, think about the arguments and facts you would use to explain:

1. Why the government passed the Corn Laws.
2. What effect the Corn Laws had on British farming.
3. How you think the government started to lower the price of British wheat.

Now try a Test Bite