Unit 4: How effective was the government's response to the Chartist challenge? Flashcards
Describe the government responses to Chartism using police forces.
Home Secretary Robert Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Act 1829.
The medieval system of parish officers and watchmen were replaced by a single professional and uniformed service of around 1000 men in charge of maintaining order in London and surrounding areas.
Troops could restore order by threatening the use of armed force; Peel believed that a trained police force could suppress disorder without resorting to guns and swords.
Successful- extended by the Rural Police Act 1839, empowered authorities in counties and boroughs to establish their own police forces.
Slow development.
Describe the government’s response to Chartism using the electric telegraph.
Government’s use of spies was vital in enabling the government to arrange precautionary measures against Chartism.
But communication between spies and London was slow.
The development of the electric telegraph in 1840s ensured the government received information almost immediately about Chartist intentions.
Gave authorities advantage over the more decentralised Chartist movement.
Describe Whigs’ response to the Chartists.
Government response to Chartism regulated at times to prevent the provocation of violent reaction.
In 1838, the Whigs were attacked in the press for failure to take strong action against Chartist speakers who called for the use of physical force eg O’Connor’s slogan ‘peaceably if we may, forcibly if we must’.
In 1838-9, ministers took no action against those Chartist speakers and the Northern Star gained a large circulation due to its coverage of Chartist activities- Whigs called for action against the paper.
Government refused to diminish the paper, to allow open discussion of ideas- also reluctant to supply military forces as it would inflame difficult situations.
However, strong action taken after the 1839 petition and the Newport Rising- 500 Chartists arrested between 1839-40.
Describe the government’s response 1842-8.
Chartism had a strong stance by 1842 due to improved organisation through the NCA.
The severe economic downturns of 1842 led to widespread strikes, and plug plot riots after the rejection of the second petition. Metropolitan Police troops sent to trouble spots such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, increased employment of spies to discover plans of local organisations- many people arrested, found guilty and transported to the colonies.
Ireland was a pressing concern for the government- Irish potato crop led to famine in 1845- by 1848 1 million were dead and 1 million emigrated to North-West England and the US.
Followers of Young Ireland were prepared to revolt against English rule whilst the government was distracted by Chartist disturbances.
Describe the power of the state and Chartism.
In 1832, the new political settlement separated the propertied classes from the rest of society.
Russell’s finality speech showed that the government would not contemplate the six points of the People’s Charter.
State power extended in the 1830s due to technological change and the creation of the police forces outside London.
The fact that Britain was not involved in any European conflict at the time meant its armed forces were used to maintain domestic peace- meaningless for Chartists to debate matters of moral and physical force.
Helped ensure the crackdown on Chartist activities and undermined its ability to organise mass support.
Describe the changing government attitudes and Chartism.
During 1830s, the Whigs had shown little interest in working class grievances but their measures such as the new Poor Law catalysed the birth of the Chartist movement.
During the 1840s, Peel’s government showed more interest in showing the ‘conditions of England’s question’- growing gap between rich and poor, introduced measures such as the Mines and Factory Acts, showing social change and improvement could be achieved.
Who was Major General Napier?
Appointed in April 1839 to command 4000 troops in the 11 counties that comprised the Northern District.
Although he previously displayed sympathy for the poor by claiming that they may rise due to lack of wages and an expensive cost of living, he was able to set them aside and put down Chartist agitation.
This was done by dividing his forces into three large detachments, positioned them around the North and close to major industrial centres- also had 2800 men under his direct command in South Lancashire to respond to disturbances in the textiles towns.
His fears of possible violence were eased when he attended the mass meeting held on Kersal Moor.
He refused the Magistrates’ requests for troops in response to the Chartists’ call for a sacred month which meant that peace was maintained during the few days of strike action- workers couldn’t afford to strike for a whole month.
Although there was much unrest in the Northern towns in 1839-40, the region did not experience a second Peterloo.
Describe the growth of the rail network.
The Chartist movement and the government’s ability to respond to it were influenced by the development of a national network of railways.
The first passenger railway between Liverpool and Manchester opened in 1830.
Immediate success, encouraged substantial investment in railways.
There were two waves of railway mania: 1836-8 and 1844-6, led to creation of a network of lines covering over 5000 miles by 1850.
How did the growth of the railway network impact Chartism?
Campaigners could move far more quickly between different organisations.
Also meant newspapers eg Northern Start could be distributed more freely; previously the ideas of Chartism had difficulty spreading into the deep countryside.
However the expansion of railways also contributed to ending Chartism, as government responses were now much quicker. Chartist marches and protests could not get a foothold before troops were available on the scene.
