Seditious Meetings Act 1819

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The Seditious Meetings Act 1819 was a British law passed after the Peterloo Massacre to restrict large public gatherings and curb radical political agitation as part of the repressive "Six Acts" legislation.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
repressive legislation
aimedAt preventing mass meetings similar to Peterloo
alsoKnownAs Seditious Meetings Prevention Act 1819
appliesTo public meetings for political reform
public meetings to consider grievances
areaOfLaw constitutional history of the United Kingdom
public order law
characterizedAs instrument of state control over public assembly
repressive measure against civil liberties
country United Kingdom
datePassed 1819
enactedAfter Peterloo Massacre
governmentAtEnactment Liverpool ministry
historicalSignificance example of government reaction to Peterloo Massacre
key statute in the history of British political repression
imposed limits on size of political meetings
notification requirements for public assemblies
penalties for attending unlawful meetings
penalties for organizing unlawful meetings
influenced later debates on freedom of assembly in Britain
inForceIn 19th-century Britain
inspiredOppositionFrom civil liberties advocates
radical reformers
jurisdiction England
Scotland
Wales
language English
legalStatus repealed
legislativeBody Parliament of the United Kingdom
monarchAtEnactment George III
partOf Six Acts
politicalContext fear of revolution among British ruling classes
post-Napoleonic War unrest in Britain
purpose to curb radical political agitation
to prevent seditious assemblies
to restrict large public meetings
relatedTo Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act 1819
Gagging Acts
Misdemeanours Act 1819
Newspaper and Stamp Duties Act 1819
Training Prevention Act 1819
Treasonable and Seditious Practices Act 1817
requires magistrates’ permission for large public meetings
targeted mass platform agitation
radical reformers
working-class political organizations
timePeriod Regency era

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act 1819
Seizure of Arms Act 1819
relatedTo
Seditious Meetings Act 1819 ("Seditious Meetings Prevention Act 1819")
alsoKnownAs
Six Acts
hasPart

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