Chartism

Question 1

What were the six points of the People’s Charter?

Answer 1

• universal suffrage for all men over 21 with sound mind who were not criminals
• secret ballots in elections
• abolition of the property qualifiaction for MPs
• introduction of salaries for MPs
• redrawn constituencies, which should be equal in size to population
• annual parliamentary elections

Question 2

Where was the initial support for the Chartists?

Answer 2

London and the South.

Question 3

Why did support for the Chartists grow in the North?

Answer 3

The movement became dominated by industrial workers who tended to be in the North.

Question 4

Who was Feargus O’Conner?

Answer 4

An Irish politician who was disqualified as an MP in 1835 because he did not possess the necessary property qualifications. In 1837 he founded the GNU and the Northern Star.

Question 5

What was the circulation of the Northern Star in 1839?

Answer 5

50,000

Question 6

What was the main area of dispute over O’Conner’s leadership style?

Answer 6

His rhetoric was of action and violence, yet he himself was never personally involved in these acts of violence.

Question 7

Who was William Lovett?

Answer 7

Was secretary of the LWMA from 1836, but withdrew from Chartism in 1840, largely because of his bitter personal opposition to Feargus O’Conner. Lovett then was deeply involved in promoting the education of the working class.

Question 8

What was the BPU?

Answer 8

The Birmingham Political Union - an organisation of middle and working class people who campaigned in support of the reform bill in 1831-2.

Question 9

Who founded the BPU?

Answer 9

Thomas Attwood

Question 10

What did the 1832 Reform Act do?

Answer 10

• it made uniform rules for voting. In the boroughs men owning or occupying properties valued at £10 or above and £50 leaseholders gained the vote
• in the counties, those who had previously voted under the 40 shillings franchise kept their vote
• voters had to register to vote formally

Question 11

After 1832, what proportion and number of adult males had the vote?

Answer 11

1/5 800,000

Question 12

When was the National Convention?

Answer 12

1839

Question 13

What was the National Convention?

Answer 13

An organised meeting of the Chartists to discuss their plans to propose their petition to parliament.

Question 14

What was the proposed ‘Sacred Month’?

Answer 14

A call for a national general strike, as well as abstaining from taxable items such as tobacco and alcohol. The aim was to disrupt the economy so seriously that the gov would be forced to negotiate with the Chartists.

Question 15

What was the main flaw of the Sacred Month?

Answer 15

The Convention did not take into consideration that most workers would not be able to survive for a month without pay.

Question 16

When was the first petition presented to parliament?

Answer 16

June 1839

Question 17

How many signatures did the first petition have?

Answer 17

1.2 million

Question 18

What was the parliament vote over the first petition?

Answer 18

Rejected. 235 to 46 votes

Question 19

When was the Newport Uprising?

Answer 19

1839

Question 20

What was the Newport Uprising?

Answer 20

John Frost, a former mayor of Newport, led 5,000 miners, some of whom were armed, in a protest march. They claimed that itwas to free Chartist members from prison. They were stopped by soldiers - 24 died and 125 were arrested of whom 25 were charged with high treason.

Question 21

Between June 1839 and June 1840, how many Chartist leaders were arrested?

Answer 21

Over 500

Question 22

When was the Second National Convention?

Answer 22

1842

Question 23

When was the Second Petition?

Answer 23

1842

Question 24

How many signatures did the Second Petition have?

Answer 24

3.3 million

Question 25

What was the parilament vote over the Second Petition?

Answer 25

Rejected by 287 to 49 votes

Question 26

What were the ‘Plug Plots’?

Answer 26

Workers removed plugs from factory boilers to prevent them being used. The strikes burned out quickly and the Convention disintergrated into confusion and disillusionment.

Question 27

When was the Third Petition?

Answer 27

1848

Question 28

What triggered the Third Petition?

Answer 28

In the North, Chartist support increased as trade began to worsen and industrial unemployment increased. Strikes and riots broke out in Birmingham and Glasgow.

Question 29

How many signatures did the Third Petition have?

Answer 29

Claimed it had 6 million, though it was less then 2 million

Question 30

Where did the Chartists arrange a peaceful march for the Third Petition?

Answer 30

Kennington Common

Question 31

What happened at Kennington Common?

Answer 31

The gov feared violence and drafted in special constables to support the police and put the army on standby. In the end, partly due to rain, far fewer turned up than expected and O’Conner urged the Chartists to disperse. He claimed there were 150,000 in attendance while the gov claimed 12-15,000.

Question 32

What was the result of the Kennington Common march?

Answer 32

The leaders were arrested and the petition was rejected.

Question 33

What caused a decrease in middle class support for Chartism in 1839?

Answer 33

Following the Birmingham riots and the Newport Uprising the majority of middle class support evaporated.

Question 34

Who was General Napier?

Answer 34

A General in command of the military forces in the 11 Northern districts between 1839-42. He was sympathetic of the Chartists and understood their intentions, however he also understood that provoking the angry Chartists would only make the issue worse. Therefore, he retrained from fighting violence with violence and limited confrontaion particualrly with armed groups. He can be credited with preventing a possible chaotic outcome.

Question 35

How did the growth of the railways impact Chartism?

Answer 35

They contributed to ending Chartism. While they sped up urbanisation, increasing migrancy which lowered wages and increased overcrowding, they allowed soldiers to be moved quickly. This meant when threats arose, the gov could respond quicker.

Question 36

How did the development of the electric telegraph impact Chartism in 1840?

Answer 36

It simplified the government and army’s ability to co-ordinate their response.

Question 37

Why did Chartism fail? (8 key points)

Answer 37

• rejection of the petitions
• divisions among the leadership
• class divisions
• conflict with other protests and reforms
• aims that were too ambitious
• inconsistent support
• effective government tactics
• damage to the reputation of the movement

Question 38

What were the successes of Chartism?

Answer 38

Within the various acts and reforms leading up to 1828, every one of the reforms except annual elections was enacted in the constitution. Also, the Chartist movement taught future political and protest movements valuable lessons. Many of the younger leaders were active in political movements of the following decades.