Final phase 1843-1848 Flashcards
In 1843 did support for Chartist grow?
No - there was a mass decline in support for Chartism due to the economic recovery
Other than the economic recovery are there any other reasons why Chartist failed to grow in support?
- Yes - Many Chartist leaders arrested did not help the movement to progress
- Yes - Increasing working class men turned to trade unions instead of the Chartists
State an example contributing to economic recovery
A boom in railway building - helped to increase employment (wages started to rise)
Why might the Conservative government also contribute to the decline in support for Chartism?
The Conservative government passed various reforms showing that they could respond to distress in industrial areas e.g. reducing import duties on some foods
When was O’Connor’s land plan scheme set up?
1845
What did O’Connor’s land plan scheme consist of?
- Setting up rural Chartist communities
2. Chartists invited to buy shares - if their name drawn out of the pile they would receive land to cultivate on
Was O’Connor’s land plan scheme popular?
Yes - by 1848 100,000 people had subscribed and five communities had been set up, each with homes, schools, parks
Why did O’Connor’s land plan scheme collapse?
Authorities hounded on O’Connor and his company on legal grounds and managed to shut it down
Why did Chartist support rise again in 1848?
- Return of economic depression
- Bad harvests
- Year of revolutions in Europe too
When and where did the third petition take place?
April 1848 - Kennington Common, after which the petition would be delivered
How did the government react to the third petition? (defence wise)
The government deployed 7000 troops, 4000 policemen and 85,000 special constables recruited from the middle class
Did the third petition succeed?
No - after examining the petition which was said to have contained 5.7m signatures it had in fact only contained 2m legitimate signatures (lots of Queen Victorias and Big-nose Wellington) - government easily rejects again
How did Chartists respond to their third denial?
There was an upsurge in violence in the Chartist heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire - many more arrests (After 1848 support declined rapidly once again)
Why did working class men turn to trade unions rather than Chartism?
Skilled industrial workers concentrated on union campaigns for pay and working conditions after this, perhaps feeling Chartism unlikely to succeed
Why was the Anti-Corn law league competition for the Chartists?
Leaders Richard Cobden and John Bright - campaign based on providing cheaper food thus better standard of living for ordinary people
Cheaper food = happy, healthy workers who no longer want more pay of the vote
