Aftermath: the emergence of Chartism 1837-40

Question 1

Timeline: 1836

Answer 1

London Working Men’s Association (LWMA) founded
-founder members; William Lovett, Fracnis Place and Henry Hetherington
–aimed to appeal to skilled workers seeking reform
National Radical Association of Scotland Founded

Question 2

Timeline: 1837

Answer 2

Six Points of the ‘People’s Charter’ written
-produced by members of the LWMA together with six radical MPs
First appearance of the Northern Star
-chartist newspaper printed in Leeds and edited by Feargus O’Connor

Question 3

Timeline: 1838

Answer 3

Publication of the People’s Charter
-printed in London along with a National Petition for Chartists to sign
London Democratic Association
-a re-branding, by George Julian Harney, of the East London Democratic Association (formed in 1837) and intended to be the unskilled workers’ alternative to the LWMA
Mass ralilies and meetings
-held thoughout the country, many to elect delegates to a National Convention

Question 4

Timline: 1839 (February, May and June)

Answer 4

Year of Action

• Feb; National Convention met in London
• May; National Contention moved to Birmingham
• June; First Chartist Petition 91.28mil signatures) presented to parliament

Question 5

Timline: 1839 (July)

Answer 5

Year of Action

• July; Riots at the Bull Ring in Birmingham, followed by the return of the National Convention to London
• rejection of Chartist Petition by parliament (235 votes to 46)
• National Convention proposed strike action, known as the ‘Sacred Month’

Question 6

Timeline: 1839 (August and November)

Answer 6

Year of Action

• August; ‘Sacred Month’ called off; Convention dissolved
• November; Newport Rising in Monmouthshire

Question 7

Timeline: 1840

Answer 7

The end of Chartism?

• January; Attempted risings in Sheffield and Bradford
• Many Chartists, inluding the leaders, arrested, tried and imprisoned

Question 8

What were the 6 points of the people’s charter (1838)? (shortened version)

Answer 8

1. A vote for every man 21 years of age
2. The ballot
3. No property qualification for members of Parliament
4. Payment of members
5. Equal constituencies
6. Annual parliaments

Question 9

There was nothing new about the 6 points of the people’s charter: they had all been part of political agitation singe the 1760s. What was new?

Answer 9

The emeregence of Chartism as a national movement in the 1830s and 1840s

Question 10

What did Francis Place, a london tailor, do in June 1836?

Answer 10

Joined up with William Lovett, a cabinet maker, to form the London Working Men’s Association (LWMA)

Question 11

What was William Lovetts role in the LWMA?

Answer 11

Secretary

Also drew up the People’s Charter which became their political programme

Question 12

What did the LWMA hope to do? How did they hope to achieve it? Who did they appeal to?

Answer 12

• They hoped that by using persuasion the government would accept the moral force of their arguments (and reform). ‘Before an educated people a government must bow.’
• People’s Charter was printed and along with a petitions widely circluated
• They appealed mainly to skilled workers, those who had much to lose by open rebellion and much to gain by peaceful change

Question 13

Biography: Henry Hetherington (1792-1849)

Answer 13

• Radical journalist and publisher
• -whose Poor Man’s Guardian (1831-1835) played an important role in the ‘war of the unstamped’ press
• –1819 gov. imposes harsh stamp duty in order to make radical newspapers economically unviable
• from 1830 HH published papers without the stamp
• -sent to jail 3 times
• HH later participated in Chartist organisations

Question 14

When was the East London Democratic Association founded?

Answer 14

1837

Question 15

What was the East London Democratic Association re-named to?

Answer 15

London Democratic Association (LDA)

Question 16

Who did the LDA aim to attract?

Answer 16

Unskilled workers and those who favoured a more confrontational approach to the government