What is Peterloo Massacre?
{{coord|53.478|N|2.247|W|display=title}} {{Infobox Military Conflict |conflict = Peterloo Massacre (Battle of Peterloo) |partof = |image = Peterloo Massacre.png |caption = A painting of the Peterloo Massacre published by [[Richard Carlile]] |date = 16&nbsp;August 1819 |place = St. Peter's Field, [[Manchester]], England |result = 15 killed<br /> 400–700 injured }} The '''Peterloo Massacre''' (or '''Battle of Peterloo''') happened at St Peter's Field, [[Manchester]], [[England]], on 16&nbsp;August 1819. It was when [[cavalry]] [[Charge (warfare)|charged]] into a crowd of 60,000 to 80,000 gathered at a meeting to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. The end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in 1815 had resulted in a time of [[famine]] and chronic [[unemployment]]. This was made worse by the introduction of the first of the [[Corn Laws]]. By the beginning of 1819 there were poor economic conditions. That, and the limited [[suffrage]] (few people had the vote), increased the appeal of [[Radicalism (historical)|political radicalism]]. In response, the Manchester Patriotic Union organised a [[demonstration]] to be addressed by the radical orator [[Henry Hunt (politician)|Henry Hunt]]. The Manchester Patriotic Union was a group agitating for parliamentary reform. Shortly after the meeting began, local [[magistrate]]s called on the military authorities to arrest Henry Hunt and several others with him, and to [[:wikt:disperse|disperse]] the men. Cavalry charged into the crowd with [[sabre]]s drawn. In the resulting confusion, 18 people were killed and 400-700 were injured. The [[massacre]] was given the name Peterloo in ironic comparison to the [[Battle of Waterloo]], which had taken place four years earlier. {{History-stub}} {{commonscat}} [[Category:1819]] [[Category:1810s in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Massacres]] [[Category:History of Manchester]] [[Category:19th century in England]]