Depth Topic 2: Chartism

When had struggle for reform collapsed?

Struggle for reform after 1815 had collapsed in aftermath of bloodshed of Peterloo.

What did working class radicalism lack?

Working-class radicalism didn't disappear completely in 1820s, but lacked direction w/o leadership of men such as Hunt + Spenceans.

When was brief revival of working class radicalism?

Brief revival during reform struggle 1830-32, but working people disillusioned by outcome.

When did working people become even more radicalized?

• They became even more radicalised by legislation passed by Whig govt 1830s, especially despised Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

• By mid-1830s, number of organisations had come into being seeking further + more far-reaching parl. reform.

Which organizations came together 1838?

3 groups, London Working Men's Association (LWMA), Birmingham Political Union (BPU, + Great Northern Union, came together in 1838 with aim of creating national petition in support of 6 Points of People's Charter, which had been drawn up by William Lovett of LWMA.

What did chartists arrange?

Over next 10 years, Chartists arranged mass demonstrations + organised 3 petitions, signed by mills of men + women, which were presented to parl.

Were petitions accepted?

Each petition was overwhelmingly rejected by HoC.

How did support fluctuate?

Support for Chartist movement fluctuated considerably 1838-48.

When was it v. popular?

It was v. pop in times of economic hardship + high u/e, when its numbers swelled dramatically.

Who did Chartism never attract?

Although hard to sustain such enthusiasm, Chartism continued to enjoy broad support among working-class radicals, though it never succeeded in attracting to its ranks the most highly skilled workers or farm workers in rural counties.

Did women support Chartism?

• Many women supported Chartism, even though it would not embrace female suffrage.

• They were v. active in early years, especially in activities such as supporting imprisoned Chartists + their families.

• However, numbers of supporting women declined from early 1840s, as they transferred support to other activities, notably teetotalism + educational activities.

Did middle class support Chartism?

• Although number of middle-class people joined Chartism in early years, many were soon alienated by violent & threatening language of number of its speakers.

• As result, large number of middle-class supporters had left movement by 1839.

What was important reason for failure?

Important reason for failure of Chartism was determination of Whig + Tory govts to resist radical demands + oppose Chartist violence by any means at their disposal.

When were police forces created?

After founding of Metropolitan Police in London in 1829, similar police forces were created in other parts of country from 1839, + these were supported by armed forces wherever they were required

Who was Major General Napier?

Major General Napier was key figure in countering Chartists: his leadership of Northern District 1839-40 was both measured + non-confrontational, although he worked to suppress Chartist riots.

When did the economy begin to revive?

Moreover, econ. began to revive from 1842, with consequent reduction in both u/e + distress.

When were the 6 points of the peoples charter improved?

• August 1838, 6 Points of People's Charter were approved at meeting of leading radicals in Birmingham.

• Charter was concerned only with pol. reform

How would political reform be achieved?

1. universal male suffrage

2. the secret ballot

3. constituencies of equal size

4. abolition of property qualifications for MPs

5. annual parliaments

6. payment of MPs.

Were these points new?

• These proposals not new: most of points had been championed in 1 way or another for many years.

• Schemes promoting universal suffrage + short parls. can be traced back to 'Head of the Proposals of 1647, when army leaders met to discuss how country should be governed after CW of 1640s.

What did French rev. and post-war distress revive interest in?

French Rev. + post-war distress had revived interest in constitutional + pol. reform, though debate was silenced by Peterloo, 6 Acts, + economic revival of 1820s.

When was working class interest in reform revived?

Working-class interest in reform was revived in late 1820s.

What did middle class organizations gain?

Middle-class organisations such as BPU gained widespread working-class support, + were instrumental in securing passage of Reform Act 1832.

What were radicals and unionists hopes for reform?

• Working-class radicals + trade unionists had high hopes for reform, but expectations were to be unfulfilled.

• They were excluded from franchise, and deeply opposed to what they regarded as sustained assault by Whig govt on their rights + privileges.

Were the whigs repressive?

For many, Whigs seemed even more repressive than Liverpool's govt of post-war years.

What pushed people towards radical politics?

Disillusion with Reform Act, + with Whig govt after 1832. pushed many working people towards radical politics.

How do some historians explain origins of Chartism? - economy

In explaining origins of Chartist movement, some historians have focused on importance of econ. factors, especially cyclical trade depressions that punctuated 1838-50 + underpinned agitation for People's Charter in 1839, 1842 + 1848.

How do some historians explain origins of Chartism? - whigs

• While econ. factors sig. , Chartists were opposed to many of policies carried out by Whigs since 1832.

• Were disillusioned by outcome of Reform Act, and vigorously opposed what they saw as Whig attacks on issues such as rights of TUs + their failure to provide effective reform of factory conditions.

• In this sense, Chartism was response to political as well as econ. circumstances.

When was the catholic relief act?

1829

What was the catholic relief act?

• Had freed Catholics from most of their civil disabilities, allowing Irish Catholics to turn attention to attacking payment of tithes to Anglican Church of Ireland.

• There were many violent clashes between farmers + police forces, + breakdown of law + order compelled govt to act.

What is a tithe?

Usually ~ 10 % of agricultural produce that was paid annually to fund Anglican Church in Ireland.

What was the tithe war?

Opposition to these payments by Catholics resulted in bitterly contested Tithe War 1831-36.

When were tithes abolished?

Tithes were abolished in 1869 when Irish Church was disestablished from state.

What was the Irish coercion act?

• Irish Coercion Act 1833 was 1 of most repressive pieces of Irish legislation of 19th C.

• Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was given wide powers to suppress any public meetings; arbitrary arrest became commonplace; + offenders were to be tried by court martial rather than civil courts.

What shocked radicals?

• Severity of Act shocked radicals throughout Britain.

• Feared that if Whigs were prepared to act so harshly in Ireland, they might be ready to impose similar restrictions on British radicalism.

Where were there demonstration against the act?

• Were demonstrations against Act throughout England + Scotland.

• Mass meetings in Birmingham, Nottingham & Manchester marked 1st stage in revival of radical pol. activity, which had been dormant for many years + was sig. factor in emergence of Chartism in mid-1830s.

What did repeal of combination acts lead to?

Repeal of Combination Acts 1824 led to re-establishment of many trade unions.

What were the combination acts?

Passed in 1799 & 1800, prohibiting TUs + attempts at collective bargaining.

Why were the combination acts repealed?

Were repealed in 1824, thanks largely to lobbying campaign led by Francis Place.

What did an act of 1825 limit?

• An Act of 1825 limited scope of union activity.

• Most of these were v. small, often covering just 1 trade in 1 locality.

When was the GNCTU established?

In 1834, Robert Owen, leading socialist + Scottish mill owner, established Grand National Consolidated Trades Union (GNCTU).

Why did Owen create the GNCTU?

Owen intended to bring together workers from across country to create single national union, whose power would be enhanced by substantial membership.

What happened to the GNCTU?

Whigs took firm stand against GNCTU, + destroyed it within 6 months.

What did 6 farm laborers attempt to do?

6 farm labourers in Dorset village of Tolpuddle agreed to form trade union + swore oath to keep  activities secret.

What did the govt. do to the men?

Govt considered secret oaths to be crime; men were duly convicted + sentenced to 7 years' transportation.

How did people react to this response? (WERE THESE THE TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS????!?!?!)

• Was national outcry, with widespread protests in London + chief manufacturing towns, + 800,000-strong national petition was presented to parl.

• sentences were cancelled within 3 years, + men returned home, but damage had been done.

What unions continued?

GNCTU was no more, + small localised unions continued as before.

What happened in the Glasgow weavers’ strike?

Govt's determination to limit power of TUs was confirmed by Glasgow weavers' strike of 1837, which led to 18 leaders of Spinners' Union being tried on various charges + sentenced to 7 years' transportation.

What were these factors a cause in?

These attacks on trade union activity intensified hatred felt by working people towards Whig govt, + were sig. factor in growth of Chartism.

When had newspapers been taxed since?

Newspapers had been taxed since 1712, not to raise money, but rather to restrict circulation of all newspapers + keep them out of hands of ordinary people.

When were stamp duties imposed on American colonies?

In 1765, Britain had imposed stamp duties on American colonies, which were fiercely resisted by colonists + contributed to outbreak of American Revolution 1775.

How much tax was paid on newspapers 1830?

In 1830s, every copy of British newspaper paid tax of 4 penny, which made press far too expensive for ordinary people.

What was the poor mans guardian?

• In 1831, Henry Hetherington founded The Poor Man's Guardian, which was unstamped + sold for 1 penny

What was circulation of the poor mans guardian?

• within 2 years Guardian had weekly circulation of 220,000 copies.

How did govt. try and stop Hetherington?

Govt tried to stop Hetherington from publishing newspaper, but fines, imprisonment + destruction of his printing presses didn’t deter him.

When was stamp tax reduced?

It was thanks to sustained pressure from Hetherington + other radicals that govt reduced stamp tax on newspapers to 1 penny in 1836, + abolished tax on pamphlets altogether.

What did the success of Hetherington’s movement show?

• Success of this movement revealed that co-ordinated campaign of extra-parl. pressure could force change in govt policies.

• It emboldened those hoping for some form of pol. reform, especially leading radicals such as Lovett.

When did hetherington join Lovett?

Hetherington joined Lovett + others in 1836, + helped to draw up People's Charter.

What was the war of the unstamped?

What did many campaign for in factories?

During late 18th C, many reformers campaigned for govt regulation of factory system, focusing attention on long hours worked by adults + children alike.

What measures did Peel sponsor ?

Sir Robert Peel, father of future PM, sponsored measures in early 1820s to limit hours that children under 16 could work in cotton factories, but without system of regular inspections they were largely ignored.

Who was Oastler?

Case for reform was taken up in 1830 by Richard Oastler, Bradford humanitarian.

Where was there public interest in?

At this time, there was considerable public interest in various campaigns to abolish slavery within Brit. Empire (slave trade abolished 1807).

Where did Oastler begin reform campaign?

• Oastler began reform campaign in letter to Leeds Mercury in Oct. 1830.

• He made powerful argument, comparing conditions for slaves on plantations overseas with what he called 'Yorkshire Slavery’.

What committees did Oastler organize?

He organised number of Short Time Committees in Yorkshire + Lancashire that campaigned for 10-hour day for all factory workers.

What did 10 hour movement lead to?

Strength of 10 Hour movement led Whigs to try to neutralise committees by proposing changes of own.

What happened under Act of 1833?

• Under the Act of 1833, factory owners couldn’t employ children under age of 9, + those aged 9-18 could work for max. of 12 hours.

• Child workers were to be given some education, + 4 inspectors were appointed to enforce Act.

What did the short time committees hope?

The Short Time Committees had hoped legislation would be intro. to regulate adult employment, but that had never been Whigs' intention.

What did govt. hope on Labour reform?

They hoped that limited reform aimed at improving lot of young people would weaken appeal of 10 Hours movement overall.

What did many committee members join?

Many committee members later joined Chartist movement, believing pol. reforms, especially widening of franchise, would make it poss. to take action to legislate for improved factory conditions.

Which law had most sustained opposition?

Of all measures passed by Whigs in 1830s, it was changes to Poor Law that produced most sustained opposition + resistance, especially in northern towns.

How was provision for poor relief governed until 1834?

Until 1834, provision for poor relief was governed by Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which allowed poor to remain in own homes + claim assistance in form of outdoor relief.

What was this system like by 1830s?

By 1830s, this system of relief was coming under increasing strain.

How had population growth & industrialization strained this system?

• Pop. had more than doubled since 1601 + several areas of country had been transformed by industrialisation, which had created densely populated towns in Midlands + north.

• The old Poor Law had become v. expensive to maintain, + there were frequent calls for reform from middle-class ratepayers.

What did act of 1834 reform?

Act of 1834 reflected recommendations of Royal Commission set up in 1832.

What did act of 1834 intro?

• It intro. new principle for poor relief, that of 'less eligibility’.

• This meant that those who sought relief from parish would receive less than lowest-paid worker.

What did the royal commission recommend?

• Commission recommended outdoor relief should be abolished.

• Poor should only be supported if they left their homes + entered local workhouse, where conditions were deliberately made as unpleasant as possible.

Were instructions on outdoor relief followed?

• Although many parishes combined together to build workhouses, instructions on outdoor relief were widely ignored.

• It remained most common form of relief throughout 19th C.

Where was the act applied?

Act was applied in agricultural south from 1836, + met with little serious opposition.

Where was then acts operation not suited to?

However, its operation was not suited to economic conditions that applied in industrial towns.

What did trade cycles mean?

Trade cycles meant textile towns often enjoyed periods of almost full employment, but economic downturns led to period of sustained high u/e because few jobs outside textile industry were available.

When was the extension of the act to northern towns?

Extension of Act to northern towns in 1837 coincided with start of period of prolonged depression that lasted 1838 - 1842.

What experience had town workers gained?

• Town workers had gained valuable organisational experience with Short Time Committees.

• They were able to transfer these skills into Anti-Poor Law committees that flourished from 1837.

What was opposition to ‘poor law bastilles’?

Opposition to 'Poor Law Bastilles', as workhouses were known, sparked rioting in several northern towns.

When was riot in Stockport?

In 1842, food riot in Stockport led to attack on town's workhouse.

What had govts. opposition been able/unable to do?

Despite opposition to Whig legislation 1832-36, govt's opponents had been unable to secure many changes in Whig policies.

When did Chartism form?

1836 - 1838, various strands of radicalism came together to form Chartist movement, 1st truly national organisation of British working class.

When was the London Working Men’s Association formed?

LWMA was formed 1836 by group of men, led by William Lovett, who had campaigned against stamp duty in early 1830s.

What was LWMA never intended to be?

LWMA was never intended to be a mass organisation of London working classes.

Who was membership of LWMA?

Had small membership of few 100 politically aware artisans, such as tailors + other craftsmen, + charged fairly high monthly membership fee of 1 shilling.

How was LWMA’s conservative outlook reflected?

LWMA's conservative outlook was reflected in its moderate ambitions, which included promotion of political + social rights +, especially, development of educational opportunities for all.

How did Lovett believe the aims could be achieved?

Lovett + his associates believed their aims could be achieved by organising peaceful protests, or moral force, which would persuade parliament to embrace social + political change.

What was the East London Democratic Organisation?

• A more radical organisation, East London Democratic Organisation, formed in 1837.

• It appealed to poorer members of working class, such as dockworkers + silk weavers, +, unlike LWMA, was prepared to consider physical force to meet its ends.

When did ELDO oppose LWMA?

It would continue to oppose LWMA until National Charter Association was founded in 1840, at which time it became part of this new body.

When was the People’s Charter drafted?

May 1837, Lovett + his radical colleagues drafted series of proposals that became People's Charter in 1838.

What did the 6 points bring together?

Their 6 Points brought together main aims of British radicalism, which had been proposed since 1790s, + LWMA believed their enactment would inevitably lead to social + economic improvements.

When would LWMA be effective?

However, although some local organisations were established outside London, LWMA would only be effective if it gained widespread national support.

Who was Lovett?

Former cabinet maker, Lovett had been involved in National Union of the Working Classes, formed in 1831 to campaign for Reform Act.

Who did Lovett work alongside?

He worked alongside Henry Hetherington in war of unstamped, + joined Robert Owen's GNCTU in 1834.

What was Lovett secretary of?

He was secretary of LWMA from 1836

When did Lovett leave chartists?

• Withdrew from Chartism in 1840, largely because of his bitter personal opposition to Feargus O'Connor.

• Lovett was thereafter deeply involved in promoting education of working class.