The Dark Ball

Some Mundane events or concepts to note:

The Corn Laws were tariffs enforced by the government on grain and other foodstuffs from 1815, which were designed to favour domestic producers. This blocked the cheap import of food even when supplies were short. The Corn Laws enhanced the profit and power of the landowning costs and drove up the cost of food for the British public.

The Year without Summer happened in 1816 and was an unseasonably cold year, causing crops to fail and food shortages across Europe and North America. Scientists today believe this climate event was due to a volcanic eruption in Indonesia.

The Peterloo Massacre was a protest in Manchester where cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 who had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation.

The Swing Riots were widespread uprisings by farm labourers in 1830, mainly in southern England, to protest poor pay and the increased use of mechanisation in agriculture. The name "Swing Riots" was derived from Captain Swing the fictitious name often signed to the threatening letters sent to farmers, magistrates and other influential community members. He was regarded as the mythical figurehead of the movement. 'Swing' was apparently a reference to the swinging stick of the flail used in hand threshing.

The Reform Act of 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced widespread changes to the British electoral system. The Act extended the franchise to more of the population, created new seats in urban areas and got rid of ‘pocket’ and ‘rotten’ boroughs.

The Poor Act Amendment of 1834 changed the poverty relief system in England, making it so that workhouses were the main form of poverty relief. The view was that by reducing the amount of outdoor relief, only the truly destitute would be helped under the new system.