Chartist Movement

Chartist Movement

1. The Six Points

2. Poltical Origins

   • The working classes were exlcuded from the Reform act of 1832. William Lovett claimed that political representation had to be won before the classes could ensure economic prosperity
     • Two types of Chartism
       • PHYSICAL FORCE: Feargus O'Connor
       • MORAL FORCE: Thomas Attwood & William Lovett
       • Chartism posed the GREATEST threat to society at the time
         • Chartism had peaks and troughs 1838-1839. However Chartism never recovered after a mass movement from the major defeat in 1848
           • Chartism was a genuinely National Movement
             • Chartism was clearly capable of uniting a very large number of working people to change democracy. However disagreements between leaders were frequent.
   • The charter was drawn up by Place and Lovett and published in 1838, aimed at the whig government. The charter was explicitly Political in nature where chartism was UNIQUE.
   • 1834 POOR LAW Amedment Act gave outdoor relief to the poor in the villages. The whigs will appl Benthamite thinking to the poor laws to abolish
   • HandLoom Weavers: Majority of people were skilled workers who were literate and politcally well informed. Some strong support came from the weaving community. They looked at chartism to DEFEND an entire POLITICAL and SOCIAL CULTURE
     • Handloom weavers were the largest "SINGLE OCCUPATION GROUP" in the first Chartist movement.

3. Chartism was a completely political movement, because they had to change the law before having social change.

4. SINGLE ISSUE POLITICS

   • The 10 Hour movement and other groups such as the anti-poor law campaigners
   • Aims of Chartism saw political reform as the answer to all the societies issues.
   • It would need a political upheaval the like of which had never been seen before.

5. THE MIDDLE CLASSES

   • After the failure of the first chartist movement in 1939 and violent turn of events 'NEWPORT UPRISING'most of the middle classes withdrew from Chartism
   • After 1840 Chartism became a WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT.
   • After imprisonment of Henry Vincent May 1838, inflammetary speeches were led by John Frost tried to free him, violence ensued and 20 chartists were killed.
   • 'NEWPORT UPRISING: was significant because it LOST support of the middle classes as chartism was no longer a MODERATE movement and resorted to violence.

6. The Role of Women

   • Charter aimed to secure universal mohood suffrage
   • Women played an important part in supporting the chartist movement. Evidence suggests 1/4 of all chartists were women, they were just as affected by the poor law.
   • They raised funds for the defence of chartists. Organised social events.
   • The "Northern Star" reported that the 'Hyde Chartist Society contained 300 men and 200 women.
     • Feargus O connor, strong support in Leeds and the north, he was popular in the north due to industrial areas as london was commercial.

7. MUNICIPAL COOPERATIONS ACT 1835

   • Gave the middle classes the vote for local boroughs, which supports that middle classes turned away chartism because they were getting what they wanted.