Chartism Flashcards
Why did the 1832 Reform Act prove so disappointing to the working classes?
- It divided the w/c and m/c through household suffrage.
- Further campaigning remained a solely working class effort
What impact did the unstamped press have on the radical movement?
-Allowed for w/c access to the movement in an affordable and thus easily accessible way.
What were the 6 points of the Charter?
- Universal Male Suffrage
- Secret Ballot
- Payment for MPs
- Annual Parliament
- Equal voting constituencies
- Abolition of property requirement for MPs
What was the Poor Law Amendment Act?
- The PLAA of 1834 was introduced by the Whigs to reduce costs of poor relief.
- Ended outdoor relief and replaced it with workhouses
- Conditions of the workhouses were often terrible, inspiring fear and hatred from the w/c.
- Often referred to as Poor Law Bastilles (French state prisons)
When was the PLAA introduced?
1834
What were the implications of the PLAA?
- Blamed the w/c for poverty
- The w/c believed poor law robbed them of their right to Poor Relief
- Demonstrates control parliament has over workers’ lives and the extent of their lack of control.
- Threatens family life as sexes were separated.
Who/What did the PLAA inspire for Chartism?
- Radical leaders touring the country; local clubs formed against it.
- 10 Hours Movement was transformed into campaigning against the poor law
- O’Connor and his 1837 Northern Star
Where was the PLAA implemented?
- By 1837 it was implemented in the North, coinciding with the economic downturn.
- Not nationally implemented, thus limited effect/nationwide support against it.
How did Disillusion with the 1832 GRA create mass support for Chartism?
-Terms of GRA divided m/c and w/c
-Parliament 1832.
onwards acted entirely like previous parliaments.
-Absence of legislation to protect w/c
-H of C still serves interests of aristocracy (Hunt and Sadler lose seats)
What was the Factory Act of 1833?
- Reduced hours for young children (up to 9)
- Whig attempt to divert attention away from the 10 Hour Movement
Why did the Factory Act of 1833 create mass support for Chartism?
- ONLY reduced hours for children
- Nothing said about adult working hours
- Workers realised change would never come from above
What was the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835?
- Ratepayers (property owners) allowed to elect the local council.
- Establishment of local police forces
How did the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 create mass support for Chartism?
-Stood as another reminder to working class that they were disenfranchised
What was the war of the unstamped press?
- 1831-1836 740 sellers of unstamped newspapers put on trial
- Campaign led to whigs giving in (1836) with a reduction in newspaper stamp duty
What was The Northern Star and how did it aid Chartism?
- Implemented in 1837
- Provided widespread readership, a sense of unity and purpose and a national movement identity.
- Political paper written by proper journalists
- Free postage
How did economic depression from 1837 onwards create support for Chartism?
- Unemployment increased
- Wages decreased
- Food prices increased as a result of poor harvests (particularly 1838)
What was the ideological difference between the Charter and the Chartist movement?
-Although the charter was a political document, the essential aim of Chartism as a movement was economical
How could one argue that Chartism was the product of economic depression?
- In response to the 1834 PLAA
- Machinery threatened life of craftsmen
- 1815 Corn Law still in effect
- Indirect taxation disproportionately affected the w/c.
- 1838 poor harvest
- As Economy recovered in 1843-1848 Chartism declined in support.
What differences existed in Chartist culture?
- Nottingham (1937) had a democratic chapel, religious services and temperance.
- Christian Chartism
- Knowledge Chartism
- Moral-force Chartism
Why was Chartism arguably not a national movement?
Diverse regional causes:
- Poor Law not implicated uniformly across the nation
- Traditional craftsmen faced competition from machines
- Different regions supported different forms of Chartism
What was the Newport Uprising of 1839?
- 10,000 chartist sympathisers marched on Newport.
- 22 killed
- Leader John Frost transported.
What shattered O’Connor’s credibility?
-His climb down in 1848 which led to further disputes amongst Chartist leaders.
How effective was the policy of petitioning?
-The three great efforts made in 1838, 1842 and 1848 had all failed.
