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The Chartists

1. The Chartists had six demands they were:

   • There should be an annual election
   • MPs should be paid so not only rich people can become MPs
   • Every man over the age of 21 should have the right of vote
   • Everyone should be able to become an MP not just land owners
   • Voting should be done in secret to avoid bribery

2. Important dates in the Chartist history

   • 1836 - London Working Men's Association founded by Henry Hetherington, William Lovett, James Watson and other radicals.
   • 1837 - Charter demands set out at Crown and Anchor public house (28 February). William Lovett, working on behalf of the London Working Men's Association, is the principal author
   • 1838 - Tens of thousands attend Chartist rallies in Birmingham (August), Manchester (September) and elsewhere.
   • 1839 - Chartist rallies end in clashes with the army at Newcastle and in a riot at Birmingham.
   • 1840 - John Frost and other leaders of the Newport uprising are tried for high treason and sentenced to be hanged and their bodies quartered.
   • 1841 - Thomas Slingsby Duncombe presents petition of 1.3 million names to Parliament seeking a pardon for the Newport prisoner
   • 1842 - General strike (otherwise known as the Plug Plot riots) breaks out across Lancashire, Staffordshire and in other areas of Northern England and Scotland. Thousands demand that pay cuts are reversed and the Charter made law. Many leading Chartists are arrested. In total, 1,500 Chartists and strikers face trial, with 79 sentenced to transportation.
   • 1843 - Feargus O'Connor and 58 others tried for incitement to strike and riot at Lancaster Assizes. None of those found guilty is ever sentenced.
   • 1844 - Northern Star newspaper relocates to London.
   • 1848 - Third Chartist petition presented to Parliament after a rally at Kennington Common (10 April). Feargus O'Connor claims it holds 5,706,000 signatures; MPs say it has just 1,975,496 names, including many forgeries.
   • 1851 - Chartist convention in Manchester boycotted by supporters of Harney attracts just eight delegates (January).
   • 1851 - Northern Star ceases publication.

3. Famous Chartists

   • William Lovett
   • Henry Hetherington
   • James Watson
   • Feargus O'Connor
   • Thomas Slingsby
   • John Frost