3.4C GOV. & CHARTISTS

3.4C GOV. & CHARTISTS

1. MAJOR GENERAL NAPIER

   • Appointed in 1839, Major General Sir Charles Napier was appointed to command 4,000 troops in the 11 counties that comprised the Northern District.
   • Supporter of radical politics.
   • Often rejected requests for small detachments of troops fearing they would be easy targets for local Chartists.
   • He divided his forces into three large detachments close to major industrial centres.
   • Napier was concerned about rebellious activity in the north but was proved right when the Chartists called for a month of strikes.
   • Refused requests from magistrates to have troops for precautionary measures which led to peace during the few days of strike action.
     • He was sure a month of strikes would not take place since the workers couldn't afford to lose their wages for so long.

2. GOV. RESPONSES

   • POLICE FORCE
     • Metropolitan Police Act in 1829 by Home Secretary Peel, replaced parish officers and watchmen with 1000 men to maintain order in London and surrounding counties.
     • It's success extended it to Rural Police Act 1839 which allowed counties and boroughs to have their own police force.
   • ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
     • Developed in 1840 and allowed information to be spread far more rapidly regarding Chartist activity.
   • WHIG RESPONSE
     • No response in 1838-39 as the government didn't want to aggravate the Chartist aggression
     • However, stronger action was taken as a result of the 1839 petition and around 500 Chartists were arrested.
   • GOV. RESPONSE
     • Chartism had grown in strength since 1839 thanks to NCA
       • NCA = National Charter Association to regroup Chartists after arrests of leaders
     • Troops and units of Metropolitan Police were sent to trouble spots. Spies were used extensively and as a result, many were arrested/transported to colonies.
     • Irish Potato Famine: they hoped Chartist disruption would divert English troops
     • Response to 1848 petition implied they were worried about result of Kennington Common Meeting, Queen Victoria & King Albert sent away for safety but the meeting failed anyways.
   • POWER OF THE STATE
     • State power was extended by the 1830s through technological change and the creation of police forces.
   • CHANGING GOV. ATTITUDES
     • Poor Law: Poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed.

3. RAIL NETWORK

   • First passenger railway opened in 1830.
   • Helped in the establishment of national organisation for Chartism.
     • Used to take days for lecturers and campaigners to move across the country and now the journey could be done much faster.
     • Many travelled by rail to attend meetings.
   • Carried news, people and journals across the country
   • Influenced the spread of Chartism
     • Flourished in urban areas however problems of communication and distance had limited its spread to the countryside.
   • Influenced the ability of authorities to respond to Chartist disturbances.
     • Response to Newport Rising of November 1839 was limited by the fact there was no nearby railway