Extending the Franchise

When was Peterloo?

When was Peterloo?

1819

How many people present at Peterloo?

100,000 including women and children

Describe the events of Peterloo?

Peaceful protesting in Manchester St Peter’s Field met with violence from local government eg militia. 400 people were injured eg sabre cuts

How did the national government respond to Peterloo?

Aimed to limit protest eg public meetings could on longer have more than 50 people

What was the ideological impact of Peterloo?

Highlighted the backwards outlook of the conservative government and their aim to maintain the status quo rather than develop. This signalled a change in public attitude eg the poor man’s guardian new paper

When was the Great Reform Act?

1832

Under what party did the GRA happen?

(progressive) Whigs eg Lord Grey

What were some causes for the need of a GRA?

• chaining economic world eg industrial revolution

• ideological development: more people wanted to have the vote

What were some things wrong with the current government?

• small franchise eg rich

• rotten boroughs

• had to be payed to be an MP so only rich could afford

In what ways was the GRA significant?

Broadened the franchise and made it more fair

• removal of 56 Rotten Boroughs eg Old Sarum

• increased electorate: 1/7 of all men could vote

• industrial towns got the vote eg Birmingham

In what ways was the GRA limited?

Stayed to the status quo and no radical change

• women formally excluded

• 24 million working class still disenfranchised

• Geopolitical disparity: 120:370 N:S

Lord Grey strengthened the position of the growing middle class rather than genuinely extended the franchise for all

When was the Chartist movement?

1838-48

When were the 6 points and what did they argue for?

1838 - wanted a fairer franchise eg vote for all men over 21

When were the chartist marches?

• 1839

• 1842

• 1848

How many signatures for the last chartist march?

5 million

What was the response of the government?

dismissal and recession

• sent 102 to Australia

• claimed that the signatures were forged

What were the divisions in the Chartist movement?

• Moderation: Thomas Atwood

• Radical: Newport Rising 1839 - 5000 trying to free criminals

• Discussion of women eg 2,000 in B’ham council

What role did communication play in the chartist movement?

Spreading the word eg Northern Star newspaper

Was the Chartists successful in the short term?

No: failure

None of their points were passed as laws arguably because of division

In what ways was the Chartist movement significant in the long term?

• 5/6 points achieved by today eg 1872 secret ballot

• set the frameworks of future democracy and a fairer franchise

What suggests that the Chartist movement was more of “knife and fork” issue?

Economic recession coincide with marches

• Consequence of industrial world eg mechanisation → 400,000 textiles workers to lose their jobs in the North