britain depth 2: chartism

Question 1

what were the six aims of chartism, outlined in the people’s charter?

Answer 1

universal manhood suffrage, secret ballot, anual parliaments (never happened), equal electoral districts, abolition of property qualification for MPs, salary for MPs.

Question 2

what were some key factors that led to the emergence of chartism?

Answer 2

1832 GRA didn’t go nearly far enough, factory act 1833 was disappointing, municipal corporations act shut the working classes out, modern police force threatened the working class, new poor law established by the Whigs introduced workhouses, the coming together of the BPU, LWMA and GNU

Question 3

how was chartism created?

Answer 3

chartism was the coming together of 3 radical organisations; the LWMA (london working men’s association), the GNU (great northern union), and BPU (birmingham political union)

Question 4

what was the LWMA?

Answer 4

founded by thomas lovett in 1836 - it campaigned against stamp duty and was largely conservative in outlook, advocating for universal education. used peaceful methods
had a potent rival - the east london democratic association

Question 5

what was the BPU?

Answer 5

founded by thomas attwood - existed before the GRA and played a part in exercising pressure in getting it passed. when the BPU was relaunched in 1837, it became more radical, addressing growing poverty in brum and surrounding areas due to economic downturn

Question 6

what was the GNU?

Answer 6

founded by feargus o’connor - irish, was elected for county cork but then disqualified as he lacked property qualification (the abolition of which became a chartist cause). established various radical associations in the north - was a great orator, similar to henry hunt.

Question 7

what happened at the national convention 1839?

Answer 7

the LWMA and BPU combine - o’connor of the GNU refuses intially, because of disagreements about lovett’s methods. however he later backs the other 2 organisations in august. after this chartists begin to organise mass meetings

Question 8

aims/composition of the newport rising?

Answer 8

1839 - chartism had garnered huge support in south wales. Henry Vincent, a prominent chartist, was sentenced to a year in prison for unlawful assembly. local organisers decided to stage a meeting, attempting to persuade law enforcement to release vincent, along with other chartist leaders.

Question 9

methods of the newport rising?

Answer 9

3 separate marches were orchestrated, totalling over 10000 people. they surrounded the westgate hotel, where several chartist leaders were being held under arrest.

Question 10

response to the newport rising?

Answer 10

violence ensued - it is unclear whether this was instigated by the protestors, or the police, but the crowd was dispersed, leaving 22 men dead and over 50 injured.

Question 11

aftermath of newport rising?

Answer 11

John frost and 2 other associates were found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death.

Question 12

details of the first chartist petition?

Answer 12

prepared by 1839 - contained the 6 key demands of chartism - thomas attwood was persuaded to present it to parliament. document contained 1,283,000 signatures and was 3 miles long. 1/4 of signatures were from women. the bill was treated with contempt in parliament. less than half of MPs turned up to vote, and it lost 235 votes to 46.

Question 13

details of the second chartist petition?

Answer 13

1842 - different circumstances to the first petition. economic downturn had led to severe hardship for families that the poor laws could not withstand. this petition garnered 3.3 million signatures - 1/3 of the adult population at the time; largest single petition that has ever been laid before parliament. denied by a hearing of 287 votes to 49.

Question 14

what were the plug plot riots?

Answer 14

response to the failure of the second chartist petition in 1842. involved mass strikes of factory workers, where they would remove plugs from boilers, bringing factories to a standstill. movement involved some chartists but was not organised by chartist movements. increased economic prosperity throughout 1842 caused the riots to die down.

Question 15

details of the third chartist petition?

Answer 15

1848 - townturn in trade in 1847 led to economic depression. this combined with a wave of revolutionary activity around europe, including the fall of the french monarchy, gave new life to the chartist movement. o’connor attempted to hold a mass meeting to help deliver the latest petition. however turnout was much lower than anticipated due to weather and a very strong police presence. o’connor claimed the petition had 5.5 million signatures when in reality it had less than 2 million. furthermore there were fake names included in the signatures, making the chartist movement a laughing stock. once again, the petition was soundly rejected.

Question 16

what was the national charter association?

Question 17

what role did divided working class play in the failure of chartism by 1850?

Answer 17

while chartism was certainly a large movement, it failed to gain the support of various sectors of the working class. for example, the skilled working class and agricultural labourers were never strong supporters of the movement.

Question 18

what role did trade unions play on the failure of chartism by 1850?

Answer 18

trade union activity had been curbed significantly by 1834, due to the tolpuddle martyrs being transported to australia, as well as strike action being outlawed, considered to be the restraint of trade. individual unions did support the movement, but the plan for a month of strike action in 1839 drove many unions away, fearing that it would lead to severe consequences for the union leaders, and the groups as a whole. unions were also much more focused on economic issues, rather than political ones, and were less interested in chartism as a result.

Question 19

what role did a changing economy play in the failure of chartism by 1850?

Answer 19

many historians see chartism as a “knife and fork” issue - this is to say that spikes in chartist activity had a direct link to economic prosperity at the same - for example all 3 chartist petitions were presented at times of severe economic hardship. chartist leaders would have argued that the movement was more fundamental than this, but the working class at large would be far more engaged with the issue based on economic conditions.