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Why the British never had a revolution
Mar. 1st, 2013 12:03 pmThere have been several points in British history when a revolution might have been on the cards. The wave of fervour which swept the world in the late 1700's almost took hold in Britain as well with the Gordon Riots, but perhaps the closest Britain has ever come to storming the palaces of and tearing down the old order was on the 10th of April, 1848, the day of the great Chartist Protest.
The Chartists, a social reform movement, had gathered a great petition demanding reforms containing millions of signatures - they claimed 5 million, their detractors said 'only' 2 million (still a massive proportion of the population) and organised a rally to deliver the petition to Parliament. The powers were genuinely frightened. 170,000 special constables were drafted for the day due to fears the mob might run amok.
In the event about 40,000 people showed up, delivered the petition, and then retired to Trafalgar Square where are rally was held. Tempers ran high, and speeches were made about marching on Buckingham Palace. For a moment, civil disorder was a real possibility. And then a French agitator hopped up on a plinth and gave a great, passionate, rallying speech about the revolution and called upon the British to rise up and declare a republic.
Well, that did it. Nobody there was going to be told to do by a Frog, so a butcher's boy whipped off his coat, squared off against the Frenchman and gave him a beating. After which he was carried shoulder-high from the Square by the crowd singing "God save the Queen" before the whole thing dispersed peacefully.
And that's why the British never had a revolution: because the French told us we should have one.
The Chartists, a social reform movement, had gathered a great petition demanding reforms containing millions of signatures - they claimed 5 million, their detractors said 'only' 2 million (still a massive proportion of the population) and organised a rally to deliver the petition to Parliament. The powers were genuinely frightened. 170,000 special constables were drafted for the day due to fears the mob might run amok.
In the event about 40,000 people showed up, delivered the petition, and then retired to Trafalgar Square where are rally was held. Tempers ran high, and speeches were made about marching on Buckingham Palace. For a moment, civil disorder was a real possibility. And then a French agitator hopped up on a plinth and gave a great, passionate, rallying speech about the revolution and called upon the British to rise up and declare a republic.
Well, that did it. Nobody there was going to be told to do by a Frog, so a butcher's boy whipped off his coat, squared off against the Frenchman and gave him a beating. After which he was carried shoulder-high from the Square by the crowd singing "God save the Queen" before the whole thing dispersed peacefully.
And that's why the British never had a revolution: because the French told us we should have one.
