Peterloo Massacre Analysis

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The Peterloo Massacre occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester, England, on 16 August 1819, when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000–80,000 that had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. It was estimated around 650 people were left injured and 11 people killed, of that two women and a child. This essay will be comparing sources as evidence into the exploration of the attitude and reaction of the yeomanry to the demonstrators. Source A refers to the yeomanry’s actions as they just could no longer withstand “the fury with which they were assailed”, this gives some justification into why the yeomanry acted the way they did, this interpretation gives a reasonable reason which is understandable. Further proceeding to say “a yeoman was struck from his horse senseless… lifeless – not more than one death can be ascribed to a sabre wound”. This implies that the weapons of the yeomanry were not the main cause of the deaths that occurred, but however the mass of crowds or the actions of the ‘violent’ campaigners. Source D similarly supports the presence of the yeomanry; “necessary arrangements” implies that the intention was “for the…show more content…
Plus the fact that it was written in an newspaper, The Times, also backs up to question the reliability, giving only a one-sided viewpoint. Source D is similar in its bias typical viewpoint as it is taken from a Manchester Magistrate, the view is also ironic as it states the magistrate aim is “for the preservation of peace” but felt the force of the Yeomanry and military force was necessary. Source E is mutually an authentic account from John Chadwick a shoemaker, which can be implied that the account is more reliable than A and C as it is possibly less bias and more of a
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