PTP - Chartism

why did the reform bill campaign lead to chartism?

left the wc disenfranchised

it showed that organised mass movement could gain change in parliament

why did the attack on trade unions lead to chartism?

repeal of combination act in 1824 had allowed unions, some saw chartism as the only way to gain working rights by gaining political power

how did the factory act 1833 lead to chartism?

disappointment as it did not grant 10 hour day but simply limited childrens working hours showed gov were showing less interest in improving working conditions

how did the municipal corporations act in 1835 lead to chartism?

extended the vote for town councils to all rate payers, like reform act this included all those who owned property so excluded the wc

wc felt they were being shut out of politics

why did the war of unstammped press lead to chartism?

lowering the stamp duty on press 1836 was an important victory

chartists saw this as a means of communication for the mass movement which enabled ideas to be spread

why did the anti poor law campaign lead to chartism?

poor law amendment 1834 removed poor relief and forced workhouses

gov seen as hostile towards the wc and distress made people look for a movement to bring about change

why does feargus oconnor create his newpaper? what was it called?

the northern star, introduced as a response to the anti poor law league

how long was the first petition? when was it? what was it rejected by? impact?

1839, 3 miles long and had 1 ¼ m signatures

rejected by 235 to 46

the chartists had not prepared for what to do after it so they didnt know how to respond

what was the sacred month?

idea to go on strike for a full month - did not happen as it wouldve most likely brought about a physical confrontation

when was newport uprising? impact?

november 1839, 3000-10,000 men marched from towns in south wales to newport against the imprisonment of henry vincent in may 1838

chartists took weapons but there is evidence that they may not have known there would be trouble

the riot act is debated about weather it was actually read ect

20 men killed and 15 wounded and gov responded by sending troops and transportation

what were the 6 points of the peoples charter?

universal male suffrage

secret ballot

equal electoral districts

abolition of property qualification for MPs

payment of MPs

annual parliament

what group adopted the charter and presented a petition to parliament in the first wave?

BPU

how many attended the meetings in 1838? where were they at?

200,000

birmingham machester leeds

who was moral and physical leaders?

moral - william lovett

physical - feargus oconner

when did the convention break up and why?

breaks up in september 1839

because in july 1839 members of met police were used to break up a peaceful chartist meeting in birminhgham and lead to a fortnight of rioting and lovett was imprisoned for a year

strike failed as chartists refused to leave work and lose their pay

what and when was the national charter association?

1840 set up as chartists recognised the need for a stronger central organisation to be necessary

oconner encouraged it while he was imprisoned in york castle

by 1842 it had 50,000 members and 400 branches

what was lovetts new tactic amongst moral force chartists? who critisised this and why?

new moves, included promoting education for the working class, he devised a scheme with schools libraries and teacher training colleges

trying to prove they were ready for the vote

chartist churches also set up in birmingham

critisised by oconner who said they were distracting

during the second wave of chartism what does oconner do for chartists? how does he do this?

he reorganised them and organised signatures for a second petition and the meeting of another convention in 1842

how many signatures did the second petition have? how long ? when was it rejected?

3.3m signatures

6 miles long

rejected in may 1842

what and when were the plug strikes? how do the gov respond?

august 1842, many workers had been laid off and wages cut so strikers pulled plugs from boilers innfactories causing them to close down

gov respond by many violent confrontation between strikers and authorities, local police forces were used and hundreds of arrests were made and by the end on 1842, 1500 had been put on trial for chartist related offenses

after the second wave of chartism what had the chartists achieved? what were the limits?

+ lovett had created a respectable image, oconner created a large petition that gained attention

-however the petition still declined and plug strikes created more negative image, many leaders also imprisoned, divisions between moral v physical, economic recovery meant less people were interested in chartism

when was the third and final wave of chartism?

1845-48

what was the chartist land company? who led it? impact?

led by oconner, worked by chartists invited to buy shares in company, name drawn out by lot to win land and plan was to establish rural communities

authorities tried to stop them on legal technicalities but by 1848 100,000 had subscribed and 5 communities were set up

when was oconner elected to parliament? what did this inspire?

1847, inspired chartists to create a 3rd petition and support increased due to economic depression

when was a mass meeting planned for kennington common? what was to happen? what actually happened? why was the petition rejected? what did this lead to?

1848, petition would be delivered

the gov responded by sending 70,000 troops 4000 police and 85,000 special constables

meeting was peaceful and the petition was rejected as more than ½ signatures were not genuine - this lead. toan upserge of violence and arrests

support for chartism declined after 1848

why is chartism a failure?

none of the 6 points were achieved

power of state was too strong

army was loyal and professional police forces had been established across the country

railways helped troops

how can chartism be said to not be a failure?

100s of thousands gained valuable political experience

set up trade unions and friendly societies

helped establish labour party

why was chartist weaknesses an issue?

• lack of unity - there was too many leaders with different approaches eg lovett, cooper in leiceter and nottingham who was physical, henry vincent in bath and wales

• the nearest thing to a national leader was oconner whose speeches drew attention but had poor organisation and finance

• they failed to communicate effectively and cooperate

• violence in 1839 and 1842 gave gov excuse to arrest leaders and 500 key chartists were imprisoned after newport

• 1500 leading chartists were put on trial after plug plots

why did the gov action lead to failure of chartists?

• gov stayed calm and used violence

• loyal army and police force helped

• 6000 troops were kept in north to respond to threats

• leaders were removed at key times

• gov pass some reforms which alleviated social distress

why did economic situation hinder the chartist movement?

• years of max support were years of depression

• people only took part when they were poor

• support during times of economic downturn made campaign inconsistent and mass movement nature disapeared when economy was fine

• movement lost momentum which gave the gov breathing space