AGITATION AGAINST HUNTING LAWS IN GREAT BRITAIN IN 1844-1846

Gavrikov Danila Andreevich

From the beginning of 1844, the the Anti-Corn Law League launched an active campaign against the hunting laws in force in Great Britain at that time. These laws granted landowners the exclusive privilege of hunting wild game, which caused widespread discontent among the rural population and especially tenant farmers, who suffered serious losses as a result. The article focuses on an agitation campaign against hunting laws organized by the Anti-Corn Law League in 1844-1846 in order to gain support in rural districts. The League attributed most of rural crime to hunting laws, accusing landowners of removing land from production to preserve game and of imposing economic conditions by class legislation that led to poaching. This study provides a deeper look at an often-overlooked aspect of the broader campaign to repeal the Сorn Laws.

Keywords:Great Britain, John Bright, Game Laws, Corn Law League, Richard Cobden, free trade, Corn Laws, free traders.