1838Sep, 18
The Anti-Corn Law League is established by Richard Cobden.
The Anti-Corn Law League was a successful political movement in Great Britain aimed at the abolition of the unpopular Corn Laws, which protected landowners’ interests by levying taxes on imported wheat, thus raising the price of bread at a time when factory-owners were trying to cut wages. The League was a middle-class nationwide organisation that held many well-attended rallies on the premise that a crusade was needed to convince parliament to repeal the corn laws. Its long-term goals included the removal of feudal privileges, which it denounced as impeding progress, lowering economic well-being, and restricting freedom. The League played little role in the final act in 1846 when Sir Robert Peel led the successful battle for repeal. However, its experience provided a model that was widely adopted in Britain and other democratic nations to demonstrate the organisation of a political pressure group with the popular base.
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Events on 1838
- 6Jan
Telegraphy
Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph system using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code). - 28Jun
Queen Victoria
Coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. - 18Aug
Puget Sound
The Wilkes Expedition, which would explore the Puget Sound and Antarctica, weighs anchor at Hampton Roads. - 3Sep
Frederick Douglass
Future abolitionist Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery. - 27Oct
Extermination Order (Mormonism)
Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs issues the Extermination Order, which orders all Mormons to leave the state or be exterminated.