A Corn Law was first introduced in Britain in 1804, when the landowners, who dominated Parliament, sought to protect their profits by imposing a duty on imported corn. During the Napoleonic Wars it had not been possible to import corn from Europe. This led to an expansion of British wheat farming and to high bread prices. Farmers feared that when the war came to an end in 1815, the importation of foreign corn would lower prices. This fear was justified and the price of corn reached fell from 126s. 6d. a quarter in 1812 to 65s. 7d. Three years later, British landowners applied pressure on members of the House of Commons to take action to protect the profits of the farmers. Parliament responded by passing a law permitting the import of foreign wheat free of duty only when the domestic price reached 80 shillings per quarter (8 bushels).

During the passing of this legislation, the Houses of Parliament had to be defended by armed troops against a large angry crowd. This legislation was hated by the people living in Britain's fast-growing towns who had to pay these higher bread prices. The industrial classes saw the Corn Laws as an example of how Parliament passed legislation that favoured large landowners. The manufacturers in particular was concerned that the Corn Laws would result in a demand for higher wages. There was a dreadful harvest in 1816. This caused bread prices to increase rapidly. This was followed by industrial unrest as workers demanded higher wages in order to pay for the increased food prices. As well as strikes there were food riots all over Britain. The Corn Laws had an important political impact on Manchester. The Corn Laws were one of the main issues that were to be addressed at the meeting organised at St. Peter's Field on 16th August, 1819. Some middle-class businessmen were opposed to the Corn Laws because they wanted to keep the price of bread down so there wasn't such hungry pressure for wages to rise. In 1830, a group of Manchester business people and reformers declared themselves the Manchester Anti-Corn Law Association. This was the beginning of a national organisation, the Anti-Corn Law League. The League campaigned to get rid of restrictions on trade. It's members argued for 'free trade' - that the price of bread should not be hiked up by imposed taxes, which they considered to be unfair. They got broad support later on in their campaign, when people hoped that the end of the Corn Laws would mean cheaper food. The idea of 'free trade' was pushed strongly by Manchester reformers, so it became known as 'Manchester economics'. In the 21st Century, 'free trade' recieved criticism from those concerned about poverty - and food deprivation - today. The Anti-Corn Law League built the Free Trade Hall as a public space to hold meetings and events around such issues. It was intended to be a permanent venue for the people of Manchetser to hold public meetings of a political, religious or cultural nature. On the site of the Peterloo Massacre was built a 'community centre' for Manchester.