MP Board · Class 10 · Social Science · History: The Making of a Global WorldWhat were the Corn Laws? Why were they abolished, and what was the impact of their abolition on the British economy?

From the late eighteenth century, population growth in Britain had increased the demand for food grains. As urban centers expanded and industry grew, the demand for agricultural products went up, pushing up food grain prices. Under pressure from landed groups, the British government restricted the import of corn. The laws allowing the government to do this were commonly known as the 'Corn Laws'. Unhappy with high food prices, industrialists and urban dwellers forced the abolition of the Corn Laws. After the Corn Laws were abolished, food could be imported into Britain more cheaply than it could be produced within the country. British agriculture was unable to compete with imports. Vast areas of land were left uncultivated, and thousands of men and women were thrown out of work. They flocked to the cities or migrated overseas in search of employment, leading to a major restructuring of the global food economy.