The Society for Constitutional Information was a British activist group founded in 1780 by Major
John Cartwright, to promote
parliamentary reform
In the United Kingdom, Reform Act is most commonly used for legislation passed in the 19th century and early 20th century to enfranchise new groups of voters and to redistribute seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons ...
.
It was an organisation of social reformers, many of whom were drawn from the rational dissenting community, dedicated to publishing political tracts aimed at educating fellow citizens on their lost ancient liberties. It promoted the work o
Tom Paineand other campaigners fo
Most members of the Society for Constitutional Information were also opposed to the slave trade.
[Simkin, John.]
" ''Spartacus Educational'', Spartacus Educational, Sept. 1997, spartacus-educational.com/PRsocietyC.htm. It was particularly strong in Sheffield.
The Society flourished until 1783, but thereafter made little headway. The organization actively promoted
Thomas Paine's ''
Rights of Man'' and other radical publications, and under the leadership of
John Horne Tooke collaborated with other reform societies, metropolitan and provincial, such as the
London Corresponding Society, with which it met in 1794 to discuss a further national convention as well as producing many
pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound book (that is, without a hard cover or binding). Pamphlets may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths, called a ''leaflet'' or it may consist of a ...
s and
periodicals. After the government repression and
1794 Treason Trials
The 1794 Treason Trials, arranged by the administration of William Pitt, were intended to cripple the British radical movement of the 1790s. Over thirty radicals were arrested; three were tried for high treason: Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke a ...
in October, in which the leaders were acquitted, the society ceased to meet.
See also
*
London Corresponding Society
*
Radicalism (historical)
Radicalism (from French , "radical") or classical radicalism was a historical political movement representing the leftward flank of liberalism during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and a precursor to social liberalism, social democr ...
Notes
External links
Introduction , British history online
1780 establishments in Great Britain
Politics of the Kingdom of Great Britain
1794 disestablishments in Great Britain
Organizations established in 1780
Organizations disestablished in 1794
Political organisations based in the United Kingdom
Radicals (UK)
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