Event 6: How Revolutionary Was the Cato Street Conspiracy?

Event 6: How revolutionary was the Cato Street Conspiracy?

What was the Cato Street conspiracy?

The conspiracy was a radical plot of 1820 to overthrow the government.

What happened during the Cato Street Conspiracy?

In January 1820, a small group of radicals met secretly in Cato Street, London to conspire against the government. Unemployment and taxes were still high, hunger widespread and the six acts were affecting radical activity. At the meeting, a government spy called Edwards encouraged a radical leader, Arthur Thistlewood, to prepare a plot. A dinner for Lord Liverpool and his ministers was due to take place in February and the plan was to kill all the members of the government in one go. Although these radicals were working alone, they believed they would gain support from all over the country.

How did the Government react to the Cato Street conspiracy?

On the 22nd February 1820, government agents surprised Thistlewood and the conspirators in the Cato Street House. Thistlewood stabbed and killed one agent but all the plotters were arrested, except Edwards, the government spy. They were executed for treason – Thistlewood was hung until he died and became the last person in England to have his head cut off as well. The government congratulated itself. After 1820, radical activity faded away. The Government thought it must have been because of the six acts and the swift action of government spies. But unemployment fell after 1820 and life got better, so perhaps that was why the radicals lost support. As for the spies, how much of the unrest was provoked by their activity anyway? Look back to the Spa Fields Riot and the Derbyshire Rising for details. Was it in the interests of Lord Liverpool's government to deliberately create unrest? If so why?