British Corn Laws and the Anti‑Corn Law League (1815–1846)

1. Napoleonic-era shortages politicize British grain policy

   Jan 1, 1793Labels: Napoleonic Wars, British grain

   • Britannica

2. Importation Act 1815 sets strict wheat protection

   Jan 1, 1815Labels: Importation Act, British Parliament

   • Britannica
   • Customs Act

3. 1828 law replaces the 1815 system with a sliding scale

   May 13, 1828Labels: Sliding scale, British Parliament

   • UK Acts 1828
   • Jrnl Liberal

4. London Anti–Corn Law Association launches organized opposition

   Jan 1, 1836Labels: London Anti

   • ACL League
   • Jrnl Liberal

5. Manchester activists found the Anti–Corn Law League

   Jan 1, 1838Labels: Anti Corn, Manchester

   • ACL League
   • Cobden

6. Bright emerges as a leading public speaker for repeal

   Jan 1, 1838Labels: John Bright

   • Bright
   • ACL League

7. Villiers begins annual Commons motions for repeal

   Mar 1, 1838Labels: Charles Villiers, House of

   • Jrnl Liberal

8. League adopts nationwide pressure-group tactics

   Jan 1, 1839Labels: Anti Corn

   • ACL League
   • McCord catalog

9. Duties on Corn Act 1842 reduces duties under Peel

   Apr 29, 1842Labels: Duties on, Sir Robert

   • UK Acts 1842
   • Jrnl Liberal

10. Canada Corn Act 1843 introduces preferential imperial access

    Jul 12, 1843Labels: Canada Corn, British Empire

    • Canada Corn

11. League peaks in scale and funding as crisis builds

    Dec 23, 1845Labels: Anti Corn

    • Ashworth
    • Jrnl Liberal

12. Peel announces government plan for Corn Law repeal

    Jan 27, 1846Labels: Sir Robert, Government plan

    • Importation 1846
    • ACL League

13. Importation Act 1846 receives Royal Assent

    Jun 26, 1846Labels: Importation Act

    • Importation 1846
    • Hansard 1846

14. League holds final meeting after repeal victory

    Jul 2, 1846Labels: Anti Corn, Manchester Town

    • Ashworth
    • ACL League