Origins of Chartism

Question 1

Disappointment of the 1832 reform act

Answer 1

• less than 20% adult males could vote
• new parliament seemed less sympathetic
• Henry Hunt lost seat in parliament
• newly enfranchised m/c in leeds voted in a factory owner

Question 2

Factory act 1833

Answer 2

• only restricted working hours for children
• didn’t help improve working conditions

Question 3

Municipal corporations act 1835

Answer 3

• extended vote to all ratepayers
• ratepayers had to own property so excluded w/c
• w/c shut out of political process

Question 4

War of the unstamped press

Answer 4

• poor mans guardian priced at a penny - disobeyed law
• other newspapers followed Henry Hetherington’s lead
• Whig gov have in and lowered tax 1836
• showed organised and determined campaign could enact change

Question 5

Anti poor law campaign 1837-38

Answer 5

• cut increased cost of ‘indoor relief’ and abolished ‘outdoor relief’
• poor relief only available in workhouses
• w/c saw as robbing their right to poor relief
• showed parliaments control over their lives

Question 6

Campaign against poor laws

Answer 6

• Fergus O’Connor set up Northern star in leeds
• radical MP John Fielden proposed repeal of poor laws in House of Commons - voted against 309 to 17
• working men would have to enter parliament to enact change

Question 7

Six points of the charter

Answer 7

• universal manhood suffrage
• vote by secret ballot
• annual parliaments
• payment for MP’s