Phase 3: 1843-48 the final phase

Question 1

Economic recovery and the loss of mass support

Answer 1

• Economic recovery described above helped to contribute to a decline in mass support of Chartism during this period. The boom in railway building helped increase employment and wages. The arrests of many leaders and their well known divisions over strategy did not help movement to progress. Working class men turned to trade unions instead of Chartism.
• Conservative government contributed to decline in mass support for the movement by passing reforms showing they could respond to distress in industrial areas. – Reforms incl reducing import duties on foods (Corn Laws repeal in 1846). Reintroducing income tax which only the better off paid.

Question 2

The Land Plan

Answer 2

• O’Connor scheme to set up rural Chartist communities. Chartists were invited to buy shares- if their names were drawn out by a lot, they would receive plots of land to cultivate. Popular with working class and by 1848 100,000 people subscribed and five communities had been set up each with homes, schools and parks.
• yet authorities hounded O’Connor and his company on legal grounds and financial mismanagement leads to failure and discredits the Chartist movement. Few of those lucky enough to have been selected by a lot became farmers, most returned disillusioned to the towns.

Question 3

Third Petition and meeting at Kennington Common 1848.

Answer 3

• 1848 support for Chartism increased, as bad harvest and return of economic depression, and the year of revolutions in Europe too.
• 3rd petition and convention in April alongside mass meeting on Kennington Common after which petition would be delivered.
• Govt deployed 7000 troops, 4000 policemen and 85,000 constables recruited from middle classes. -Though meeting only attracted 20,000 and were not allowed to cross the Thames- O’Connor agreed fearing he would not be able to control violence (was he too cautious?).
• Parliamentary committee examined the petition and there were fewer than 2 million signatures and govt easily rejected.
• Upsurge in violence in Chartist heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire and there were many arrests. After 1848 support for Chartism declined rapidly.

Question 4

Womens’ role in Chartism.

Answer 4

• Heavily involved, though not a leaders and rarely arrested and role overlooked in early years.
• Raised money, organised local activities, exclusive dealing like shopping at Chartist supporting shops.
• Change- roles declined over course of movement. Involvement of women was used to portray Chartists as not serious which caused some leaders to lessen their role. NCA reduced involvement of women too.
• Significance- greater involvement when Chartism was stronger and arguably more support made them stronger, but could be argued to be seen as ‘weak’ support and to have undermined the chartist. Partly responsible for new directions for women.

Question 5

Role of Trade societies in Chartism

Answer 5

• Once believed that Chartism and unions were rivals competing for support- with unions gaining skilled industrial workers- now closer relationships than previously thought, until 1842 strikes.
• Changes- 1842 a turning point- skilled industrial workers concentrated on union campaigns for pay and working conditions after this, thinking Chartists were unlikely to succeed.
• Significant- after 1842 they provided a different direction for campaigns but is this a symptom rather than cause of Chartism.

Question 6

Anti Corn Law League

Answer 6

• Richard Cobden and John Bright. Campaign based upon providing cheaper food and therefore better standard of living for ordinary people. i.e. workers and their families.
• Arguably a distraction from and competition for Chartist. Tensions between them (disrupt meetings ect).
• Some view ACLL as middle class organisation, with cheaper food leading to happy, healthy workers not wanting more pay or the vote.