William Lovett

Question 1

Activities

Answer 1

-The LWMA
He founded in London Working Men’s Association in 1836 from which emerged the Chartist movement. He had written the Six Points of charter.

-Phase 1 1838-40
He was leading member of the National Convention, and was arrested in 1839 following the Birmingham Riots and spent one year in prison for seditious libel- he had produced a placard accusing the authorities- who had used the London met police to break up peaceful Chartist meeting- of ‘a flagrant and unjust outrage, using a bloody and unconstitutional force from London’.

-Phase 2 1840-42
Released from prison, Lovett focused more on educational reform and self help, more commonly referred to as ‘Knowledge Chartism’. His scheme was called the National Association for the Moral, Social and Political Improvement of the people. By 1842 he had become increasingly marginalised from mainstream Chartism.

Question 2

Beliefs

Answer 2

• Strongly associated with Moral Force. Chartism, and clashed with O’Connor over both his rhetoric and strategy. Lovett believed that working men would only get the vote if they demonstrated, by responsible behaviour, that they were worthy of it.
• In prison he proposed a national educational system funded by a penny tax on all who signed the petition. Lovett believed it essential to educate the working class, making them worthy of the vote and convincing the middle classes that they could use it intelligently.

Question 3

Criticisms

Answer 3

O’Connor was furious with Lovett’s scheme set up in 1840, claiming it would destroy Chartist unity. O’Connor used his prominent position and the Northern Star to stir up opposition to Lovett and in this he succeeded. Lovett claimed that O’Connor was politically and morally dishonest.

Question 4

After Chartism

Answer 4

Became an advocate of several causes incl teetotalism, international peace and abolition of slavery.