Question

Write a note to explain the effects of the British government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws.

Answer 1

Hint:
The Corn Laws were tariffs and other trade controls that were imposed in the United Kingdom between 1815 and 1846 on imported food and grain ('corn'). In order to benefit domestic farmers, they were planned to keep grain prices high, and embodied British mercantilism.
These laws were introduced because the industrialists and urban inhabitants were frustrated with high food prices; they forced the abolition of the Corn Laws as a result.

Complete answer:
The decision of the British government to revoke the Corn Laws was the inflow from America and Australia of cheaper farm crops. Many English farmers also abandoned their occupation and moved to cities and towns. Some went internationally. This has contributed indirectly to global farming and rapid urbanization, a prerequisite for industrial development. The British government finally abolished the Corn Laws that brought several changes to the British economy. The effects of the abolition are as follows:

(i) The abolition of Corn Laws in England contributed to cheaper grain imports in Britain.
(ii) British farming was unable to cope with inexpensive imports and vast land was left uncultivated, leaving thousands of men and women unemployed. They were flocking to towns or migrating abroad.
(iii) Higher sales due to industrialization in England lead to more food imports and higher food production in Eastern Europe, Russia, America and Australia
(iv) It increased the revenues and political influence associated with the possession of land.

Note:
The Corn Laws, however, made landowners wealthier. At the moment, despite making up just 3 percent of the population, rich landowners had the sole right to vote. So the rich elite benefited, even though the Corn Laws affected the middle poor. For a long time, the rich in parliament did not care about the plight of the middle class, which is why these pressures existed for so long until Britain implemented a free trade agenda like what we have today. The suffering of the moment led to protests, but it took years for the actual institution to resolve the problems lawfully. The right to vote was extended to a large part of the merchant class in 1832, contributing to the final conclusion of the Acts.