Pressure for Change: Chartism, Anti-Poor Law League (1832-1846)

Question 1

What were the main terms of the Chartist movements?

Answer 1

1. Vote for all
2. Secret Ballot
3. Regular Parliaments
4. Pay for MPs
5. Remove the property qualification for an MP
6. Electoral Districts
   (Drafted by William Lovett)

Question 2

What was one of the main debates within the Chartist movement?

Answer 2

Moral Vs Physical Force

Question 3

When was Chartism launched?

Answer 3

1838 at a huge meeting held in Brum, Glasgow and Manny.

Had speakers like Joseph Rayner Stephens.

Question 4

What did Joseph Rayner Stephens say about Chartism?

Answer 4

That it is a ‘knife and fork, a bread and cheese question’.

Link to the economic factors of Chartism.

Question 5

When was the First Petition held for Chartism?

Answer 5

Feb 1839

Question 6

What happened during this First Petition?

Answer 6

The petition of 1.25 million signatures was presented to the House of Commons in June 1839, but was defeated by a vote of 235 to 46.

This was expected and led to a wave of protests.

Question 7

Why was Fergus O’Conner arrested?

Answer 7

He was arrested due to the Birimingham Bull Ring Meeting (July 1939) after the Met shut down the protest.

This led to him becoming an advocate for more physical force - which led to the BPU withdrawing.

Question 8

Why is the Newport Rising (1939) important?

Answer 8

It was the only significant example of Charitists using violent action.

John Frost marched on the prison in Newport which led to fighting and 24 dead with 40 more wounded.

Question 9

When was the National Charter Association (NCA) founded?

Answer 9

1840

Question 10

What did the National Charter Associations do?

Answer 10

It was a membership group that by 1842 had over 70,000 members paying a subscription who planned Mass petitions.

Question 11

Why did the Chartists split?

Answer 11

Due to some Chartisit’s beginning to focus on other working class issues such as Education and Temperance etc.

Question 12

What did the 2nd Petition in 1842 align with?

Answer 12

A lull in economy, and a rise in unemployment and other economic issues.

Again links to economic question of Chartism.

Question 13

When the 2nd Petition was voted against what occured?

Answer 13

The Plug Riots

Question 14

When was the 3rd Petition?

Answer 14

1848

Question 15

What did the 3rd Petition also link to?

Answer 15

A downturn in the economy again in 1847.

Question 16

What happened after the 3rd Petition?

Answer 16

The end of Chartism due to the failure of the 5.5m signature petition to make an effect, after a low turn out of 25k to the meeting.

Question 17

Why did the Chartist fail?

Answer 17

1) Splits and Divides - e.g. O’Connor vs Lovett (who was more focused on w/c education and Poor Law) and the Moral vs Physical force debate
2) The close link to the economic conditions and therefore the mid Victorian boom (with increased leisure activities distracted from petitions).
3) Trade Unions feared government action (due to the Combination Acts) and mainly focused on local issues.
4) Many high skilled workers and agricultural workers did not join the movement which hurt its reach.

Question 18

Did Chartism achieve anything?

Answer 18

1) The Chartism aims would later be achieved (with the exception of annual elections)
2) The threat of unrest arguably influenced unrelated reforms such as the Factory Acts and the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846.