The Riot Act

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"The Riot Act" by Great Britain Parliament is an act passed in 1714 that authorized local authorities to declare groups of twelve or more people unlawfully assembled and order dispersal within one hour or face death. Created during civil unrest including the Sacheverell and Coronation riots, it granted broad powers to disperse crowds by force, indemnifying officials against consequences. The act's controversial application, including at the Peterloo Massacre, shaped riot control precedents before its 1967 repeal.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.