Protest and Reform: Failure of the Chartists Flashcards
Divisions within the Chartists - What 2 groups did the Chartists split into?
Physical and Moral Force chartists
Divisions within the Chartists - Who lead the Moral force Chartists and what did they focus on?
William Lovett supported by Thomas Attwood
Emphasised non-violent protest, education and co-operation with groups e.g. Anti-Corn Law league
Divisions within the Chartists - Who was most affected by the ideals of Moral force Chartists?
Midlands and Southerners, e.g. people in Birmingham - liked democratic approach.
Divisions within the Chartists - Who lead the Physical force Chartists and what what did they focus on?
Fergus O Connor - a writer for the Northern Star
Focused on Violent protest and loud action
Divisions within the Chartists - What plan was an example of radical action by O Connor and did it succeed?
The Land Plan - set up in 1845 and attracted 70,000 customers by 1848 - few were actually completed.
Divisions within the Chartists - What was the ultimate effect of having 2 sides to Chartism?
More universal spread of social influence but divided into two aims so dulled its political influence.
Divisions within the Chartists - What did the Chartists fail to do which limited their numbers?
“Hunger-Politics” only used when economic decline so failed to gain support from Working-class.
Peel’s Actions - When and what was the Mines act?
1842
Stopped women and children under 10 working underground
Peel’s Actions - When were the two Factory acts?
1844 and 1847
Peel’s Actions - What did the first Factory act achieve?
Reduced children’s working hours between the ages of 6-13 to 6 1/2 hrs a day
Peel’s Actions - What did the second Factory act achieve that effectively rendered Chartists obsolete?
The 10-hour working day
Peel’s Actions - What did Peel’s reforms cause that decreased likelihood of protest?
Stopped the working class discontent by making working conditions more humane, i.e., removing the masses from mass protest.
Peel’s Actions - What was Peel’s last act before resignation that really disenrolled the north from southern politics
Repeal of the Corn-Laws in 1846 - gave the agricultural North no reason to protest.
Use of Violence - What event caused severe reaction to any sign of protest?
The 1830 French Revolution
Use of Violence - Who refused to support Chartists because of the use of violence?
Middle and Upper classes, and Industrialists.
Use of Violence - Example of a riot halting industrial profit:
Plug Riots 1842 - 500,000 Workers on strike across Staffordshire, to York - removed plugs from boilers making them useless
1500 Arrested by Peel.
Use of Violence - What rising was a direct militant protest?
Newport Risings, November 4th 1839 - 5000 armed iron workers marched to Newport prison where chartists were being held - clashed with soldiers outside the Westgate hotel.
Use of Violence - How many died in the Newport Riots?
20 Killed and 50 Wounded
Use of Violence - How many arrested in Newport Riots?
500 Chartist leaders were held in prison between 1839-41
Use of Petitions - When were the 3 petitions?
1839, 1842, 1848
Use of Petitions - What was the first petition rejected by?
235 to 46
Use of Petitions - What happened because of the loss of the first charter?
‘Sacred Month’ - Physical force chartists saw this loss as Moral Force failure i.e. their time to try their tactics - lead to protest e.g. Newport Rising.
Use of Petitions - How many signatures did the second petition gain?
3.3 Million - more signatures than eligible voters in the country.
Use of Petitions - How many signatures did the third petition gain?
5 million - fewer than half were genuine.
