To what extent do you agree with the view tht the Chartist movement was a failure?

Question 1

line of argument - did Chartism fail

Answer 1

although the chartist movement did help create an atmosphere of asking for political change, and working class organisation 
but it was only a contributory factor to things like corn law repeal and it failed to meet its aims short term

Question 2

paragraphs - - did Chartism fail

Answer 2

agree - did not meet it aims
disagree - made progress towards meeting its aims
- achievements beyond its specific aims
agree - Achievements were limited and it is misleading to ascribe them to Chartism

Question 3

• did Chartism fail –
  agree
  did not meet its aims

Answer 3

(a) The Six Points – none achieved, not even close (parliamentary vote etc)
(b) The underlying aims behind the Six Points i.e. political change as a means to other change including improved economic / social conditions (also not achieved – Poor Law remains, working conditions unchanged etc). Improvements that did occur were down to the growing economy not the Chartist movement.

Question 4

• did Chartism fail – disagree
  Chartism ensured significant progress was made towards achieving their specific aims
  There were also other achievements of Chartism beyond its specific aims

Answer 4

(a) The Six Points – all but one achieved, several fairly soon after Chartism (1858, 1872, 1911, 1918) but even 1867 could be argued to have been a partial success.(not until 1928)
(b) Significant progress was made towards the underlying – Peel’s economic reforms especially repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 + other reforms to taxation (cheaper food = better living conditions) can be connected to Chartist activity i.e. a desire to resolve issues that led to discontent

(a) Other tangible benefits– e.g. education, land ownership
(b) Connected to this is the development of working class organisation – the National Conventions, Northern Star etc – highly impressive in the time, influential long after Chartism. Although seen as a weakness, lots was learnt about leadership and strategy. Debate over moral v physical force could also be viewed positively / as productive
(c) Development of working class consciousness and solidarity. – sophistication of Chartism’s political goals and tactics should not be underestimated. Working class groups which grew were significantly influenced by Chartist activity: Trades Societies (late Unions) and the Labour Party.

Question 5

• did Chartism fail
  agree
  Achievements were limited and it is misleading to ascribe them to Chartism

Answer 5

(a) The reforms passed after Chartism were motivated by high political expediency and influences other than Chartism.
(b) Similarly the Corn Law repeal had several causes and Chartism was not at all crucial to this.
(c) Lots of the other organisations that developed after Chartism were already in existence and their growth did not depend upon Chartism / would have happened anyway. Northern Star, for example, existed before the Charter.
(d) The same can apply to working class consciousness and organisation – began with radicals, anti-Poor Law too, arguably Chartism no more than another stage of development in this. (Although perhaps a particularly significant stage)