Anti-Corn Law League

The Anti-Corn Law League (German anti cereal inch League ), was an association in England, which sought and also brought about the abolition of the Corn Laws.

These duties introduced in the 17th century had been amended in 1815, that the importation was banned altogether, when the price was 80 shillings for one quarterback that they should be duty free but as soon as the price had exceeded this rate.

In 1828 came a movable inch scale whose sentences with rising prices is decreased and vice versa instead of this system. The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in October 1831 in Manchester by Richard Cobden and several manufacturers and merchants. It was not until 1838, she won greater influence, which spread in 1839 under the leadership of Cobden, Bright, Bowring, Prentice, Thompson, Ashworth, inter alia through the establishment of branch associations, formation of larger funds, holding meetings etc. all over the country to go.

After the application from the Member Charles Pelham Villiers on repeal of the Corn Laws in 1839 in the House had failed, succeeded in 1841 to bring Cobden and some like-minded people into parliament, where the already standing become application Villiers already counted 40 votes. Following the resignation of the Whig Cabinet and the establishment of the Tory ministry in the summer of 1841 the entire dissenting clergy, the Irish Party and part of the free trade -leaning Whigs of the League joined, while the latter was fought passionately of the landed aristocracy and Chartism.

As of 1842, the Corn Laws were modified with only minor reductions operation to the agitation with even greater energy. From 1843 to 1845 the League held more than 200 large gatherings, spreading hundreds of thousands of pamphlets in the interest of free trade. Their expenses were 1844 to 60,000, their available funds to ₤ 26,665 ( pounds sterling ).

In the session of Parliament from 1844 to 1845 received Villiers application already 122, another of Cobden on examination of the Corn Laws to the contrary received 221 votes. Therefore, the League stressed in the course of the year 1845 its utmost powers to secure a majority in parliament. Finally Robert Peel brought his famous request before the House, after which the importation of all food released and only preliminary three-year low sliding scale should still be retained for grain imports in January 1846. This bill went through the House of Commons and House of Lords and became law. Thus, the purpose of the League had been reached, they broke up in 1849 on, as the later fully repealed Customs had already diminished to 1 shilling for 1 Quarter.