Following the defeat of the Reform Bill and of the Liberal government in June 1866, there were demonstrations all over the country. On June 29th 10,000 people assembled in Trafalgar Square and marched to Gladstone’s house before dispersing peacefully. In July members of the Reform League marched to Hyde Park from different parts of London intending to hold a public meeting in a park which was at that time considered exclusive to the middle-class. The Home Secretary ordered the gates to be closed, so the marchers repaired to Trafalgar Square, but some of those who had joined the marchers en route tore down the railings, invaded the park – to the consternation of the bourgeois walkers – and trampled the flower beds! …
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Hyde Park Riots". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 April 2005 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1534, accessed 23 November 2024.]
