Key Players in Chartism

Question 1

What Did Feargus O’Connor do before chartism?

Answer 1

• MP for county Cork 1832-1835

- supported by London radicals

Question 2

What were O’Connor’s main contributions to chartism?

Answer 2

• The Northern Star (est. 1837) -> made Chartism a national, unified political force
• imprisoned for 18 months for seditious libel
• set up Land Plan
• presented 1848 petition
• only chartist MP after 1847 election

Question 3

What were O’Connor’s core beliefs?

Answer 3

-physical force
-language and threat of violence used as a political strategy
(avoided involvement in Newport uprising 1839)

Question 4

What were O’Connor’s attributes?

Answer 4

Powerful speaker

flamboyant, engaging and charismatic

Question 5

How was O’Connor criticised?

Answer 5

• raised unrealistic expectations

- land Plan as backward looking and impractical

Question 6

What were William Lovett’s main contributions to Chartism?

Answer 6

• founded the LWMA in 1836, from which emerged the chartist movement
• wrote six points of the charter
• leading member of the NC
• adopted knowledge Chartism, marginalised from Chartism by 1842

Question 7

What were Lovett’s core beliefs?

Answer 7

• Moral Force
• get the vote by demonstrating they are worthy of it through responsible behaviour
• proposed a national system of education - believed it was essential to educate the w/c

Question 8

How was Lovett criticised?

Answer 8

O’Connor was furious about Lovett’s 1840 scheme, claiming it would destroy chartist unity
– used Northern Star to stir up opposition against Lovett

Question 9

What did Lovett do after Chartism?

Answer 9

• advocate of teetotalism, abolition of slavery and international peace