Phase 2: 1840-1842. Reaction to failure and Revival

Question 1

The National Charter Association (NCA)

Answer 1

Despite leaders imprisonment, O’Connor helped the NCA in July 1840, which aimed to provide the central organisation which Chartists lacked. NCA described as the first working class political party.

• Alongside the Northern Star, the NCA created sense of unity which kept Chartism alive with weekly subscription and wide membership.
• 1842 there were over 400 affiliated branches with 50,000 members.

Question 2

New Directions- Religion, temperance, education

Answer 2

• New Chartist culture emerged, e.g in Nottingham from November 1839, daily activities like religious service on Sunday, Carter association meeting on Monday, reading and discussion of Chartist newspaper on Saturday.
• Henry Vincent (welsh chartist leader) turned to teetotalism and in Birmingham there was a move to Christian Chartism.
• meanwhile Lovett was advocating Knowledge Chartism.
• O’Connor denounced this diversion in the Northern Star and the mass of Chartism stayed with him.

Question 3

The complete Suffrage movememnt

Answer 3

• Attempt to unite middle class radicals with Chartists. Leaders like Joseph Sturge of Birmingham, were willing to work with Lovett but were unsure of O’Connor.
• early signs of success but shortlived and broke up.
• was an uneasy alliance between classes and difficulty of leadership and agreement of tactics.

Question 4

The Second Petition

Answer 4

• NCA organised new Chartist Convention and the second petition, far more organised than the lead up to the first petition had been– 3.3 signatures collected.
• was rejected by House of Commons by 287 votes to 49.
• Ineffectiveness of peaceful petitioning had been demonstrated and once again National Convention had not agreed on alternative strategy.
• Discontent continued to grow.

Question 5

The Plug Riots

Answer 5

• July 1842: economics depressed worsened, unemployment and wage cuts- Chartist leaders saw working class activism drift out of their control– strikes in 23 counties, incl Midlands and North– strikers pulled plugs from boilers to stop steam engines and shutting down factories.
• NCA found itself with strike it had not planned. Some leaders thought it was time for authorities to give way or fight. Others less sure- like O’Connor. Leaders arrested for a strike they had not begun.
• despite violent clashes around the country, Chartists were no match for 6000 troops under command pf General Napier. Troops moved quickly using newly built railways.
• Mass arrests used by conservatives, that were elected in 1841, and were more firm towards Chartists than Whigs had been. By end of 1842, 1500 people on trial.
• The harvest of 1842-43 was good and the economic depression lifted.