Chartism,1830-1850 Flashcards
What factors led to the emergence of the chartist movement?
- French revolution and post war distress revived interest in political reform (though silenced by six acts after peterloo and economic recovery 1820)
- WC interest for reform revived late 1820s due to MC organisations (BPU) gained widespread support in WC-secured passage for 1832 reform
- WC excluded from franchise opposed sustained assault from Whig gov
- whigs more repressive than Liverpool gov
- disillusionment with reform act pushed wc towards radicalism
What did the six point charter include?
1-universal male suffrage 2-the secret ballot 3-constituencies of equal sizes 4-abolition of property qualifications for MPs 5-annual parliaments 6-payments of MPs
What is the link between economy and chartist support?
Cyclical trade depressions 1938-50 underpinning the agitation for the people’s charter in 1839/42/48
But Chartists also opposed many Whig policies since 1832-attacks on rights of trade and conditions for factory workers
Chartism as response to economy and politics
What was the irish coercion act and when was it passed?
1833
Suppressed public meetings, allowed arbitrary arrests, offenders trialled by court martial rather than civil court
Shocked radicals in GB feared whigs would act the same
Demonstrations and mass meetings held against act on Birmingham Nottingham and Manchester-significant factor in emergence of chartism
What happened between the whigs and trade unions?
Repeal of combinations act 1824 led to establishment of TU
Whigs stood against Grand national consolidated TU-destroyed in 6 months
Whig attacks on TU strengthened wc people’s hatred for WHigs
What was the factory act and when was it passed?
Factory owners could not employ children under 9 and those under 18 could not work max of 12 hours, child workers were also given some education
What was the poor law amendment act and when was it passed?
1834
Poor relief of less eligibility-those who sought relief from parish received less than lowest paid worker
Workhouses built
Coincided with depression 1838-43
Riots in northern towns-1843 food riot in Stockport
What was the London working men’s association (LWMA)?
Formed 1836
Led by Lovett
Campaigned against stamp duty 1830
Conservative outlook reflected in moderate social and political reforms-especially education
Moral force
Only effective with national support
What was a more radical organisation?
East London democratic organisation
1837
Appealed to poorer WC
Prepared to use physical force
What was the BPU?
Leader Atwood
MC and WC campaigned for reform bill
More radical gaining more support
What was the great northern union?
Led by o connor
Powerful orator gained widespread support in N-unskilled WC
Linked to northern Star-OC as its way or circulating ideas 50,000 by 1839
Lovett disapproved on OC-thought his language in speeches and ego would ruin movement
Met with two other organisations in Birmingham-people’s charter and national petition was adopted 1838
What was the importance of the national convention?
1839
Chartist organisations meetings throughout country to elect people into chartist convention
attended by thousands
LWMA-campaign against Whig and limited 1832 reforms
BPU-motivated by economic rather than political factors-wages
Divisions clear between motivations and moral and physical force
Who used physical force?
O Connor
Who used moral force?
Lovett
What was the Newport rising and when was it?
1839
Welsh chartist Vincent imprisoned
Local organisations met to persuade authorities to release Vincent and other Chartists
Three marches with over 10,000
Troops responded firing into crowd
22 dead, 50 injured
Frost sentenced to death but instead exiled
Rising strengthened gov view that chartism was violent and trying to overthrow state
What was the chartist petition 1839?
1,283,000 signatures
Rejected
National convention suggested scared month rejected by TU
Convention dissolved Lovett in prison
Hundreds of leaders arrested-movement in danger BPU support decreased
What was the chartist petition 1842?
widespread unemployment
New poor law could not cope with mass economic depression-many towns broke under strain
3.3 signatures
Denied
What were the plug plot riots?
1842
Response to second defeat of chartist petition and wage reductions
Cotton traders removed plugs from boilers in Lancashire and Yorkshire bringing factories to standstill
Chartists Not involved but promoted by movement and denounced by o connor on N star
Violence in N widespread but short as 1842 harvest food fading improved
What happens with the 1848 chartist petition?
Depression 1847
Chartists worries about Whig victory 1847 election
O connor claimed 5.5 signatures but actually fewer than 2m
HoC refused and movement laughing stock
Petition ruined OC rep
Who were the two prominent chartist leaders?
Lovett O connor
Disagreed on organisation and methods
What was the national charter association?
Formed 1840
OC popular in N-used N star seen as successor of Cobbett
Have direct direction to movement for 10 years
1842-70,000 members
Considered first party for WC
Criticised by other leaders
What was Lovett role in education?
Focused not on people’s charter but education
Believed key to individual advancement
Formed national association promoting social and political improvements of the people-not widely supported
O’Connor opposed felt it distracted from focus of people’s charter
Association failed as poorly funded and lack of support
What was the chartist land plan?
O connor
After 1842 chartist activity fragmented
OC wanted to reunite chartism promoting the people’s charter as main coNcern
Why had chartism failed to achieve aims by 1850?
Divided WC
Chartism never cohesive organisation despite many signatures
Failed to attract aristocratic support or agricultural labour-coordinated action impossible
Divided over methods
Unclear leadership with different aims
Never gained lasting support among TU-more concerned with economy than politics-OC even changed northern star to national trades journal failed
Was chartism a failure?
People’s charter failed on 3 occasions
But
Increased WC radicalism which declined after peterloo
Allowed new leadership to strengthen development of WC
Men and women involved-activities diverse-mass meetings
Population more politically aware-N star
Political involvement of WC increased-TU and lib party
Most of 6 points eventually adopted not directly due to chartism eg secret ballot 1872
How did charter support change 1838-50?
OC N star indicates Chartists fluctuating support
1838-10,000 in circulation
1839-36,000 as mass agitation
1840s-popularity fell 6000 in 1845
Year before chartist collapse only 1500 in sales
What was the pattern of national support for chartism?
Strong support
- in expanding industry areas-midlands and north
- textile trade threatened by tech
- industrial areas of Scotland
- 1840s increase in London support due to economic fluctuations
Weak support
- Ireland-chartism side issue to home rule
- none in Sussex Norwich Essex
- little support in London before 1840s
How were women involved in chartism?
- 1/3 of signatures in 1839 petition
- important secondary roles eg fundraising and chartist Sunday schools and supporting businesses who supported chartism
-declined during 1840s reluctant to attend NCA meetings
Did the chartist have much MC support?
Early years had MC support
Decreased after 1838 due to increased violent tone
Chartists reluctant to work with MC again-difference in economic ideas and political ambitions
How did the gov deal with chartist movement?
- peel introduced met police act 1829
- extended by rural police act 1839 to counties
- helped by rail network-move police and troops around country easily
-electrical telegraph easily moved info to deal with chartist intentions for uprisings
What was the whigs response to Chartists?
Intended to not provoke violence
Attacked in press for not taking strong action against Chartists using physical force
Whigs called against N star
Gov reluctant to respond to calls from magistrates to supply military-feared worsening situation
Strong action after 1839 and Newport rising 500 arrested and
What was the gov response 1842-48?
Chartism grew due to NCA and decline in economy
Led to widespread strikes and plug riots after rejection of 2nd petition
Troops and met police sent into trouble spots eg Yorkshire and Lancashire
Foreign affairs worried gov more-widespread European rebellions
How did gov attitude change over time?
1830s- little interest in WC grievances eg poor law
1840s- gov showed more interest in condition of English question separating growing between rich and poor
What was the significance of major general Napier?
Actively sympathetic to poor despite concerns he acted to maintain order to put down chartist agitation
Rejected requests for detachments of troops fearing escalating the situation
No repeat of peterloo
