 Despite such setbacks , popular pressure for reform remained strong . In 1819 , a large pro @-@ reform rally was held in Birmingham . Although the city was not entitled to any seats in the Commons , those gathered decided to elect Sir Charles Wolseley as Birmingham 's " <unk> representative " . Following their example , reformers in Manchester held a similar meeting to elect a " <unk> attorney " . Between 20 @,@ 000 and 60 @,@ 000 ( by different estimates ) attended the event , many of them bearing signs such as " Equal Representation or Death " . The protesters were ordered to disband ; when they did not , the Manchester <unk> suppressed the meeting by force . Eleven people were killed and several hundred injured , the event later to become known as the Peterloo Massacre . In response , the government passed the Six Acts , measures designed to quell further political agitation . In particular , the Seditious Meetings Act prohibited groups of more than 50 people from assembling to discuss any political subject without prior permission from the sheriff or magistrate . 
