DIVIDED CHARTISM LEADERSHIP

JAMES BRONTERRE

‘Schoolmaster’ of Chartism
Involvement in radical politics - joined Henry Hunt’s Radical Reform Association which focused on male suffrage.
Active member in repealing stamp duty
Published a political mirror 7 Jan 1831
Edited most prominent unstamped newspaper: Henry Hunt
Elected for London Working Mens Association
Arrested at the end of the Newport Rising 1839, convicted 1840 and arrested for 18 months
Left chartism after 3rd petition failure, argued against agitation pre-petition and disproved force.

Fergus O’Connor

Fled his family on stolen horses: took refuge in London w/ Radical MP Francis Burdett
Inherit uncles estates - money allowed him to live life as a gentleman radical, independent
Entered Irish politics young, took part in whiteboy agrarian protests.
Went to London to avoid unrest, won his 1st parliamentary seat 1832
Initially followed Daniel O’Connel, became critical of his timid approach to appeal whig government
Re-elected 1835, disqualified for not having property
Develop links within English radical circles
Founder member of Maryleborne Radical Association
Speeches only made local impact - made Northern Star Newspaper 1847
Great Northern Union founder: brought together radical organisations of the north
Meetings of 100,000 in 1838

William Lovett

Secretary to the general convention of the industrial classes
Involved with anti-militia movements, trade unionism and campaign to repeal taxes on newspapers
1836 - one of the founders on Lurnat involved in the Birmingham Political Union
Found guilty of seditious libel in 1839
Fell out w/ Fergus O’Connor due to crack down on chartism after rejection of the first petition
He believed by putting down new moral cause of reform forward they could convince middle class and parliament to embrace democracy

Susanna Inge

Secretary of city of London female chartist association
Wanted female suffrage and equality
October 1842 held a meeting at the chartist hall where Mr Coker declared that he was against women having the vote
Suggested that chartist society should by law and organisation have in a prominent place
Against Fergus O’Connor who was against women’s vote

Lack of unity

In Wales, chartism was often associated with nonconformist chapels but in Leeds some chartists worked to enter local government.
BUT… was a good thing as it gave working classes a sense of national consciousness
Moral force/Physical force chartism
First draft of public charter include women → excluded to be “taken