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Political Activities of the Anti-Corn-Law League

• generally, the Anti-Corn-Law League did not appeal direct to the working class, which was unenfranchised and therefore could not be of direct help in electing free-trade MPs or in influencing parliament.
• the Anti-Corn-Law League hoped to win working-class support as the 'muscle' against the landocracy, therefore utilising the "fear" element of the mob. Also, this would show that the Anti-Corn-Law League was acting in the 'national interest'. The Anti-Corn-Law League claimed that it had the support of the working classes whenever it could.
• some of the Anti-Corn-Law League's supporters were interested in the Complete Suffrage Union. The Anti-Corn-Law League would want the support of a wider electorate should another Reform Act be passed.
• the Anti-Corn-Law League had a problem with rural agricultural labourers and small farmers. If the Corn Laws were repealed, there would be less wheat grown so there would be less land under wheat crops. That would cause unemployment and swell the ranks of those dependent on poor relief (i.e. the workhouse). Also there was a fear of the increasing use of agricultural machinery like the threshing machines which deprived labourers of winter work.

Between 1838 and 1842, several attempts were made, locally and nationally, to find common ground between the Chartists and the Anti-Corn-Law League. The Anti-Corn-Law League set out to win support in manufacturing towns from both masters and men. Also they held lectures in agricultural districts. The League had to fight middle-class apathy: between 1839 and 1840 it had problems paying Anti-Corn-Law speakers because of a shortage of funds. The Anti-Corn-Law League encouraged the establishment of Operative Anti-Corn-Law Associations.

The disorders of 1842 ruined any chances of class reconciliation. After 1842 the Anti-Corn-Law League lost interest in working-class politics and switched its campaign to rural areas and electors. It exploited the division of interest in agricultural communities which existed between landowners and tenants.