Peterloo Massacre

The Peterloo Massacre was an event which occurred on 16 August 1819. The Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, and Tegan Jovanka materialised in Manchester two days before the massacre and were caught up in the conflict. It marked the beginning of the campaign of universal suffrage.

It was a fixed point in time. (AUDIO: The Peterloo Massacre)

Preparations
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The protest
On the morning of Sunday 16 August 1819, the protesters gathered and began marching towards St Peter's Field. Many of them were dressed in their Sunday best. They carried several banners saying things like “Equal Representation”, “Vote by Ballot”, “Annual Parliaments”, and "Love". There were about eighty thousand protesters, much more than the city fathers expected.

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Legacy
The Peterloo Massacre was a major turning point in the history of the working class. It inspired many to speak out and push for reform.

Percy Shelley wrote a poem about the massacre. The Fifth Doctor recited an excerpt of it to his companions:
 * "Rise, like lions after slumber
 * In unvanquishable number!
 * Shake your chains to earth like dew
 * Which in sleep had fallen on you:
 * Ye are many — they are few!"

Historians debated the exact number of causalities for many years. They eventually reached the conclusion that there were six hundred and fifty four. (AUDIO: The Peterloo Massacre)

Behind the scenes
Percy Shelley wrote a poem about the Massacre in real life. It was called The Masque of Anarchy, although this was never stated in The Peterloo Massacre. The Doctor quoted its final stanza.