CHARTISM - Causes Flashcards
IRISH COERCION ACT 1833
Why did the Act happen?
There were clashes between farmers and police forces.
The breakdown of law and order galvanised the government to act.
IRISH COERCION ACT 1833
What was the Act?
Super repressive.
Lord Lietenant of Ireland given wide powers to suppress any public meetings.
IRISH COERCION ACT 1833
Consequences
Random arrests became common
Offenders were tried by court martial and not civil courts. (military law)
IRISH COERCION ACT 1833
Revival of radical activity
Radicals feared that if Whigs could be so restrictive in Ireland, there’s nothing stopping them from restricting British radicalism.
This created the revival of radical activity.
WHIGS + TUs
What were the Combination Acts?
Passed in 1799 and 1800, they prohibited trade unions and attempts at collective bargaining.
They were repealed in 1824.
WHIGS + TUs
What did Robert Owen do?
In 1834, he established the Grand National Consolidated Trades across the country to create a single national union, whose power would be enhanced by a substantial membership.
WHIGS + TUs
What did the Whigs do to the GNCT?
They destroyed it within six months.
WHIGS + TUs
Growing hatred for Whig government - Tolpuddle Oath 1834
Tolpuddle oath – 6 labourers in Dorset village of Tolpuddle formed a trade union and swore an oath to keep their activities secret.
The government believed this was a crime, so the six men were convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation - national outcry ensued, and 800,000 strong petition was presented to parliament.
The sentences were cancelled within three years and the men returned home.
WHIGS + TUs
Growing hatred for Whig government - Glasgow Weaver’s Strike 1837
The government was determined to limit the power of the trade unions –
confirmed by the Glasgow Weaver’s Strike of 1837, which led to 18 leaders of the Spinner’s Union being tried on charges and sentenced to seven years of transportation.
WAR ON THE UNSTAMPED 1831-1836
Who founded The Poor Man’s Guardian?
Circulation figures
In 1831, Henry Hetherington found The Poor Man’s Guardian, which was unstamped.
It sold for one penny, and within two years, it had a weekly circulation of 220,000.
WAR ON THE UNSTAMPED 1831-1836
What did the government do in 1836?
They reduced the stamp duty tax on newspapers to one penny in 1836.
WAR ON THE UNSTAMPED 1831-1836
What did this prove?
That whilst the Govt tried to stop Hetherington, the e.p pressure forced change.
This emboldened radicals liek Lovett, who encouraged Hetherington to join other radicals in 1836 to write up the People’s Charter.
FACTORY ACT 1833
Who was Richard Oastler and what did he do in 1830?
He was a humanitarian and in 1830, he campaigned in a letter to the Leeds Mercury, that slavery overseas were similar to the Yorkshire slavery they were facing.
FACTORY ACT 1833
What did this do?
Factory owners could not employ children under the age of 9, and those 9-18 could only work for max 12 hours.
They were given some education.
FACTORY ACT 1833
What were the Short Time Committees and how did they help Chartism?
These were committees in Yorkshire who campaigned for a 10-hour day for all factory workers.
They hoped that legislation would be introduced to address and regulate adult employment.
The whig govt thought that limited reform = weaken appeal of Ten Hours movement overall.
Most committee members joined that Chartist movement because they thought that political reforms would facilitate the possibility to take action to legislation for improved factory conditions.
