To what extent was Chartism a complete failure 1836-52? Flashcards
What five factors need to be discussed?
1) Leadership and Division
2) Peel’s Actions
3) Strength of the 1832 Act and petitions
4) Violence
5) Petitions
What was the electorate increase through the 1832 reform act?
366 000 to 650 000 (18% of the male population). This was mainly middle class people who became rich through the industrial revolution.
Why did the electorate increase mean that Chartism fail?
This meant that Chartism failed because it was now guaranteed that middle class support would be eliminated, reducing the support who could help to add respectability to the movement.
Why didn’t the government trust workers?
The government didn’t trust workers because of their tendency for violence. Britain had already become wealthy with a low electorate so there was little call to reform it significantly.
When were the Chartist petitions?
The Petitions of 1839, 1842 and 1848 used by the Chartists were dominated by the working classes.
Why did the Chartist petitions mean that Chartism failed?
This meant that Chartism failed because it lacked support from people who the government and upper classes respected.
What did violence mean for the support of Chartism?
The threat of physical force meant that the majority of middle classes refused to support Chartism.
Give an example of violence used by Chartists in Wales
The Newport Rising (due to terrible conditions in working South Wales) where thousands of armed iron workers marched to Newport where Chartists were being held prisoner.
How many people were killed and wounded in the Newport Rising?
Soldiers opened fire and killed 20 and wounded 50.
Give an example of violence used by Chartists in England
1842 Plug Riots where workers removed Plugs from factory boilers rendering them useless across Staffordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and York.
How many workers went on strike during the Plug Riots?
500 000
How many people did peel have arrested after the Plug Riots and name two of the people arrested
Peel arrested about 1000 of those involved.
Leaders John Frost and Zephaniah Williams were arrested.
Why did the arrest of the leaders mean that Chartism failed?
This lead to Chartism failing because their leadership was even more threatened and the government could employ their effective tactic of divide and rule to ensure their failure.
What were the two forces of Chartism?
Moral and Physical
Who led the moral force Chartists?
William Lovett, who wanted to educate people and left in 1845 and Francis Place.
Who was a prominent member of the Physical force Chartists?
Feargus O’Connor
Why did the divisions and the lack of leadership mean that Chartism failed?
The fact that there were so diverse aims by the Chartists meant that the government could divide and rule the Chartists, forcing them into failure. The government hadn’t given into violence in the 1810s with the Peterloo massacre and the luddites and as well as the Tollpuddle martyrs so they wouldn’t in the 1830s and 40s either. It appeared that some of the chartists hadn’t learnt from previous mistakes.
Where was Chartism and why did this mean that it failed?
Chartism was mainly in the north of the country with few examples in the South. Those in Birmingham were heavily influenced by moral forces, where physical forces were more prevalent in the north. It was not a movement big enough to threaten westminster as the Swing Rots were.
What happened to Chartism when the economy grew?
When the economy improved Chartism declined and its popularity grew with economic crisis, so during the mid-victorian boom its popularity declined.
Why did the mid-victorian boom lead to Chartism declining?
This meant Chartism failed because it was no longer a force great enough to be significant enough of the government to pay attention to.
Give an example of some of Peel’s reforms
Peel’s actions such as the 1842 Mines Act and the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 improved working conditions anyway. The 1842 mines act stopped women from working in mines and the 1844 factory act rescued children’s working hours between the ages of 8-13 to 6 ½ hours a day. Chartism was a force that wanted to get the vote to achieve reform.
Why did Peel’s reform mean that the Chartists failed?
Peels reforms essentially gave the people what the Chartists were demanding. This meant Chartism failed because their demand became obsolete.
What did Peel appear to do through his actions such as the 1842 Mines act?
Listen to the people, meaning that Chartism was no longer necessary as a vessel for protest.
What are the two relevant historians?
Dorothy Thompson and Anna Clarke
What does Thompson say?
Chartism failed principally because it could not adapt to a changing landscape
What does Clarke say?
Chartism failed due to the actions of the government rendering the movement obsolete
Whose actions supports Clarke’s view?
Peel
Give an example of a group that the moral force Chartists co-operated with?
Anti-Cornlaw league
What are the three main figures of moral force Chartism?
1) William Lovett
2) Francis Place
supported by Thomas Attwood
Who undermined the cause of the moral force Chartists?
Physical force chartists
What are the two methods of the moral force Chartists?
Petitions and pamphlets
