Which British trade laws on imported grain were repealed in 1846?

The Corn Laws were the British trade restrictions on imported grain repealed in 1846.

Enacted in various forms, especially after the Napoleonic Wars, the laws protected domestic landowners and farmers by making imported grain expensive or restricting imports when prices were low. In British usage, “corn” meant cereal grains generally, including wheat, oats and barley—not specifically maize.

The laws became increasingly controversial as Britain industrialized and urban populations grew. Manufacturers and urban workers argued that protection kept bread expensive and raised living costs. The Anti-Corn Law League, founded in Manchester in 1838, organized petitions, lectures and political pressure for free trade. Richard Cobden and John Bright became prominent campaigners.

Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel ultimately backed repeal after poor harvests and the Great Famine in Ireland intensified concerns about food supplies. Parliament passed repeal in 1846, despite strong opposition from many Conservatives. The Stamp Acts, Combination Acts and Navigation Acts were different measures concerning taxation, labour organization and shipping.