Chartism in the 1940s

Question 1

National charter association

Answer 1

• est. 1840
• most important Chartist organisation of 1840s
• by 1842, 50,000 members

Question 2

Education and teetotalism

Answer 2

• William Lovett encouraged education of w/c
• prove they deserved right to vote
• teetotalism involved abdication of alcohol

Question 3

Plug strikes and riots 1842

Answer 3

• many workers suffered wage cuts/laid off across midlands
• workers forced factories to close down
• pulled plugs on boilers

Question 4

Government response to plug strikes

Answer 4

• 6000 troops deployed in north
• led by general Napier
• hundreds of arrests made

Question 5

Why did the chartists lose support during the mid 1840s

Answer 5

• arrests of many leaders
• divisions amongst other leaders
• economic recovery
• reforms carried out by government

Question 6

The land plan 1845-48

Answer 6

• Chartist hopes kept alive by Chartist land company
• scheme to establish rural Chartist communities
• by 1848, 100,000 people subscribed and 5 communities established

Question 7

1848 petition

Answer 7

• 1847, general election O’Connor elected to parliament
• 3rd Chartist petition inspired

Question 8

Kennington common 1848

Answer 8

• planned mass meeting
• 25,000 showed despite expectation of 200,000
• government prepared - 8,000 soldiers stationed
• peaceful demonstration
• only leaders and petition allowed through to parliament

Question 9

Parliament response to 3rd petition

Answer 9

• Chartist leaders claimed 5m signatures
• parliament declared less than half were genuine
• rejected

Question 10

Failure of Chartism

Answer 10

• propertied classes united
• loyal army to government
• no influence in politics

Question 11

Successes of Chartism

Answer 11

• led to set up of trade unions
• working class engagement in political clubs and societies