Chapter Fifteen

Question 1

What was Chartism?

Answer 1

An organisation formed in 1838 to support working class political activity. Wanted to extend the franchise to all working men. They were disappointed over the 1832 Great Reform Act, and felt resentment towards te new Poor Law, which humiliated them and increased their hardships.

Question 2

What failures were the Chartists frustrated by?

Answer 2

Robert Owen’s Grand National Consolidated Trades Union, in 1835, which ended hopes of laouring men organising themselves legally to negotiate better working conditions.
Factory Act had not benefitted them- had led to an increase in working hours.
Poor Law Reform humiliated them
Poor harvests 1836-37

Question 3

What was the London Working Men’s Association?

Answer 3

Established in June 1836 with a reformist political programme. William Lovett and Francis Place- key figures. Listed their demands under six headings- universal male suffrage, equal electoral districts, annual parliaments, payment of MPs, secret ballots n elections and no property qualifications for candidates.
William Lovett called the 6 points the ‘People’s Charter’ in 1838, and at a meeting in Birmingham endorsed by Thomas Attwood’s Birmingham Political Union, the Chartist movement was established.

Question 4

What was the London Working Men’s Association? What were their six demands?

Answer 4

Established in June 1836. Two key figures: William Lovett and Francis Place. Listed 6 demands: universal male suffrage, equal electoral districts, annual Parliaments, payments f MPs, secret ballots in elections and no property qualifications for candidates.
1838- William Lovett called the six points the People’s Charter and the movement was established.

Question 5

What were the moderate Chartists?

Answer 5

Represented by Lovett and also Attwood. They favoured persuasion rather than force. Believed education was vital. Advocated strategy of petitioning.

Question 6

What were the extreme Chartists?

Answer 6

Operated mainly in the smaller northern industrial towns- suffered from miserable conditions since end of Nap War. Feargus O’Connerr (Irish, member of O’Connell’s repeal party but left Ireland and became involved in Radical campaigns in London). He was the editor of the Northern Star- Chartists newssheet. Threatened to use physical force to achieve the 6 demands.

Question 7

What was the first unifying event of the Chartist movement? The movement contained many differences of opinion on how the Charter was to be achieved.

Answer 7

1839 Petition was the first unifying event. 39 delegates met in London, frew up the pople’s charter. Petition and its 1,280,000 signatures was presented to Parliament in July 1839 but was rejected.

Question 8

What was the affect of the failure of the first petition?

Answer 8

Brought about first clash between moderates and extreme Chartists. O’Connor wanted to respond with threats of violation.
Newport Rising, also in 1839confirmed mc fears, and allowed O’Conor to promote his own aims and methods and he became leader in 1842.

Question 9

What was the Newport Rising, November 1839?

Answer 9

Rising in South Wales, stemming from discontent of appalling working conditions. Outcome was a disaster for Chartist. Whig government showed force, hundreds of armed chartist supporters were beaten down by 30 armed soldiers, 24 Chartists killed. Movement lost impetus. Confirmed the middle class fears about the movement. Lovett was singled out by th authorities and imprisoned.

Question 10

What happened to the Chartist movement by the beginning of 1840?

Answer 10

Economic revival that took vitality.
Working men faded into the background.
But then in 1842 O'Connor became leader as the economy fell again, which reignited working class agitation.

Question 11

What happened regarding the Chartist’s second petition?

Answer 11

Supposedly signed by three million people. Dismissed again by Parliament. Lead to the Plug Plot- boiler plugs of steam engines were knocked out to prevent factories and other works from operating. Acted as a rallying call.
Government used new local police forces to deal firmly with unrest. O’Connor lost nerve, denounced strike in the Northern Star. Arrests and harsh sentences meant the Chartist activity fade. Also due to end of 1840s giving way to period of prosperity. WC did not yet see connection between pol reform and their conditions.

Question 12

Why had the British government previously failed to deal effectively with trouble in Ireland?

Answer 12

Politicians lacked a basic undertsanding of the problems, and lacked sympathy of their sufferings caused by the famine.

Question 13

What had happened to Daniel O’Connell? What was he replaced with?

Answer 13

He was arrested at one of his anti-Union meetings in 1843. Spent force.
During 1840s new radical group ‘Young Ireland’ formed with aim of repealing Union. Outbreaks of violence culminated in a rising in 1848. Swiftly put down by police, deployment of extra troops. Nationalist in character. Nrw era of troubles for Ireland.

Question 14

What was Irish dissatisfcation caused by?

Answer 14

Church, land (econ was land-based, could not support growing pop) and their national identity. Had continued since the Act of Union in 1800.

Question 15

Why were people angry at the new system of poor relief?

Answer 15

Families were split up and forced to complete hard labour. The principle of treating the ‘undeserving’ poor in this way was viewed as injust and immoral and the operation of the new law was regarded as oppressive and unequak. Gave poor little chance to better condition. Protests and rioting started, althugh they had little serious impacts.

Question 16

Why was opposition to the Poor Law slowed down?

Answer 16

Outdoor relief in the North was still available for a fe years as it took time for parishes to organise themselves into unions with a single workhouse. In the years after, there was a rise in employment, aided by the development of railways. Most importantly there was a noticeable drop in the rates bill which silenced some critics.

Question 17

What was the Anti-Poor Law Association?

Answer 17

Developed after a recession in 1837. Well-organised. Worked closely with Radical reformer John Fielden to support his motion for the repeal of the Act.
Meetings were called
Within short time the movement ended- competition from other groups e.g Chartists who had a stronger claim. Anti-Poor Law movement ailed to monopolise public attention. And act was imposed flexibly.

Question 18

How was the Poor Law Amendment Act extended?

Answer 18

1842, Peel extended it with the unpopular ‘less eligibility’ clause still part of the strategy.

Question 19

What was the Anti-Corn Law League?

Answer 19

Founded in 1838. Leaders were Richard Cobden and John Bright. Supported by manufacturing class who were able to finance movement- successful as finances were wel-organised which created steady income for the campaign.

Question 20

How did the Anti-Corn Law league get their message across?

Answer 20

Since they were middle class, they chose to work through Pariament- avoided riots, strikes, or any form of violence and worked on gaining the support of the churches. Planned a publicity campain so every voter would rceive pamphlets. Speakers were sent over country with rilway services. Support of press to publicise their activities. Put forward Parliamentary candidates for election so that the League’s case could be heard in Parliament.

Question 21

What did the Anti-Corn Law League argue?

Answer 21

Argued that it was a myth that the Laws protected farmers- they protected inefficient farmers. Cheaper bread would remove the argument for wage increases and keep other prices steady. Went against gov policy of laissez-faire.
But others arued agriculture was still the biggest employer and repeal would damage the farming economy and cause widespread unemployment..

Question 22

Were the Anti-Corn Law League successful?

Answer 22

Successful as, in contrast to the Chartists, they stuck to one simple demand- and could demonstrate the support for this from a variety of groups. Well organised and financed with widespread support, but the fight was an uphill struggle, with many Conservatives opposing the scheme. Cons gov had been elected in 1841 on a mandate to keep the laws in place. Peel had compromised on sliding scale and would not go further.

Question 23

Why did philanthropic activity increase during the second quarter of the nineteenth century? What was the Benthamite approach?

Answer 23

Partly due to economic and social change brought about by Industrialisation, growth in pop, and new problems.
Benthamite approach= spirit that lay behind much of the impetus for social reform. Jeremy Bentham. Died in 1832 but influence continued. Mindset was tht clinging on to the old ways of doing things just because it was the tradition was not valid and institutions must be useful and have purpose.

Question 24

Who was Edwin Chadwick? Soc reform.

Answer 24

Guided by Jeremy Bentham in advising the Por Law Reform.
1842 his Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population of Great Britain exposed the squalid, unhygenic conditions in Britain’s towns and cities and it became the blueprint for improved sanitation and proper drainage system.

Question 25

Who was The Earl of Shaftesbury?

Answer 25

Previously Lord Ashley. Keen sense for philanthropy. Took over as leader of the Ten Hour Movement. Social reform rather than pol advancement.
Due to his persistence, the Mines Act 1842 was passed through Parliament.
Got Ten Hour Bill n 1847
An evangelical and public duty was part of his religious beliefs.
Although believed chariy did not stretch to the ‘undeserving poor’ and help was always more readily given to those who were prepared to help themselves.

Question 26

What was The Mines Act in 1842?

Answer 26

Made it illegal for boys under 10 and all women and girls to work underground. Benefitted by the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act in 1836 which could be applied to verify a childs age (this also benefitted The Factory Act, which was extended in 1844).

Question 27

Who was John Fielden?

Answer 27

Born into Quaker family, with a hard-work ethic. Deeply religious and became a Unitarian and used his wealth to benefit poor.
Supported male suffrage, supported the Chartist mvement, he was hostile to the Poor Law reform, and his foremost interest was factory reform. Admired and supported Ashley, assisting the passage of the Ten Hour Act in 1847.