2020-Failures of Chartism

Question 1

Which Chartist leader stressed the link between education and chartism and what did he start?

Answer 1

William Lovett who started the “New Move”

Question 2

What was the “New Move”?

Answer 2

Following the failures of 1839 and 42, it emphasised education by setting up schools for working class children, temperance by avoiding alcohol and setting up Chartsit Churches and Sunday schools.

Question 3

When was Lovett forced out of the Chartist movement and who by?

Answer 3

1843 by O’Conner.

Question 4

Name another moral chartist.

Answer 4

Francis Place

Question 5

Name two examples of physical force chartist movements.

Answer 5

The Newport Rising (1839) and The Plug Riots (1842).

Question 6

Briefly describe what happened at the Newport Risings.

Answer 6

3rd-4th November 1839, thousands of armed ironworkers and miners marched to the Wedtgate Hotel where they believed Chartist prisoners were being held.

Question 7

How many Chartists were killed during the Newport Rising and how many wounded?

Answer 7

20 killed, 50 wounded.

Question 8

What were the consequences of the Newport Rising?

Answer 8

Frost, Williams and Jones were transported for life and Lovett and O’Connor were imprisoned.

Question 9

Briefly describe what happened during the Plug Riots.

Answer 9

500,000 workers went on strike across Staffordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire.

Question 10

What were the outcomes of the Plug Riots?

Answer 10

1000 chartists arrested.

Question 11

Why were the government so reluctant to encourage chartist demands?

Answer 11

They had already changed many things during the 1832 Great Reform Act so felt further change was unnecessary.

Question 12

When was the first petition, who proposed it and how many signatures were collected?

Answer 12

1838, Thomas Attwood and 1.2 million signatures.

Question 13

How many voted did Parliament reject the first petition by and what did they do during the sacred month?

Answer 13

235 votes to 46. During the scared month they sent 6000 troops to keep the peace.

Question 14

When was the second petition, how many signatures did it gain?

Answer 14

1842, it gained 3.3 million signatures.

Question 15

How many votes was the second petition rejected by?

Answer 15

287 to 49.

Question 16

How did the Duke of Wellington act as a barrier to Chartism?

Answer 16

He was put in charge of the defence capital and created 150,000 new “special con stables” in addition to 8000 soldiers to keep the peace.

Question 17

Name two Political Organisations set up by the chartists.

Answer 17

The National Charter Association and the Complete Suffrage Union.

Question 18

When was the NCA formed and by April 1842 how many members and branches did it have and what did this increase to by the end of 1842?

Answer 18

July 1840, had 401 branches and 50,000 members which grew to 70,000.

Question 19

Why did the NCA fail?

Answer 19

Lack of money. Most supporters couldn’t afford the subscription fees which meant the executive committee were poorly paid.

Question 20

When was the CSU formed and by April 1842 how many members did it have?

Answer 20

1842, 50 branches.

Question 21

Why did the CSU fail?

Answer 21

Collaboration between the Chartists and Anti-Corn League was strained because many chartists believed that if the Corn Laws were abolished landowners would reduce wages and O’Connor attacked them.

Question 22

What is a main disadvantage of political organisations?

Answer 22

As seen in the seditious meetings act of 1795, government can easily control and shut down the effect the organisation will have on the public.