Shelley composed '' A Philosophical View of Reform '' between November , 1819 and 20 May 1820 , meant to address political developments in England at that time . He advocated non-violence and a moderate response to the repressive measures imposed by the British government . One of the events he addressed was the Peterloo Massacre , which occurred on 16 August 1819 , in St. Peter 's Field near Manchester , where a peaceful demonstration seeking parliamentary reform was attacked by militia
Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
A Philosophical View of Reform