50 000 - 60 000 peaceful petitioners gathered on St Peter´s field in Manchester for the repeal of the Corn Laws ● Demonstration was crushed down by cavalry, 11 killed, 400 wounded ● Corn Law artifically raised the price of imported corn to keep it out of British Markets The campaign for parliamentary reform from mid C18 to C20 ● Parliamentary representation used to be in the hands of large land families ● New interests had to buy votes – all interests in the society would be represnted.