Causes of chartism

Question 1

The nature of the parliamentary system

Answer 1

Believed to be undemocratic. Controlled by a small and wealthy group of people, mostly landowners or aristocrats.

Question 2

What hadn’t changed in Britain, despite major changes in society?

Answer 2

The ruling groups

Question 3

What was wrong with the ruling groups?

Answer 3

They did not successfully represent the whole British population and certainly had different aims and views.

Question 4

Economic factors

Answer 4

-Many periods of growth and then many slumps, most notably 1839-1842-3 and 1848-50.

Question 5

What effect did these economic factors have?

Answer 5

Substantially increased pressure for change

Question 6

What law increased unrest?

Answer 6

New Poor Law 1934

Question 7

What effect did the industrial revolution have?

Answer 7

Factories were built and machines replaced their labour–> Meant skilled artisans lost their job, and therefore status.

Question 8

Why did the ‘Great’ Reform act cause anger?

Answer 8

-It enfranchised the middle class but not the working class. This meant that the working class lost an ally against the oppression of the landed classes. Only 1/5 of men could vote.

Question 9

How long had people been calling for an extension in the franchise?

Answer 9

Since 1760

Question 10

What other major event caused a great number of people to call for reform?

Answer 10

the French Revolution`.

Question 11

What impact did british radicals have?

Answer 11

Those such as Thomas Paine, who admired what had happened in France –> to them revolutionary ideas were attractive, and they wanted to see them put into practice in Britain.
-New ideas about government were being discussed across Europe
-Thomas Paine and his book , Rights of Man, made them much more popular during 1790s Britain
People became increasing more aware and anxious

Question 12

What impact did the French revolution have?

Answer 12

• The French Revolution made a great impression on England, where the ‘people’ took control of France
• This shocked other European rulers who feared the threat to their own authority and position- Britiain was afraid of “revolution from below”
• The upper class governments did their best to stop the spread of revolutionary ideas at the end of the C18th by bringing in laws preventing ‘seditious’ material or meetings taking place.

Question 13

What impact did the The new poor law have?

Answer 13

• The opposition to the New Poor Law is probably the most important short-term factor
• The distinction between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor caused many workers to be angry
• Those who were without jobs yet physically fit were forced to work in workhouses, where conditions were much worse
• The loss of rights, however, were the main concern of the poor
• Both Whigs and Torys supported the NPL, enabling the working class leaders to build on their attacks
• In west Yorkshire especially the NPL led directly to Chartism