Origins of Chartism

Question 1

Why was there w/c disappointment with the 1832 great reform act?

Answer 1

• less than 20% adult males could vote and no w/c
• new parliament seemed less sympathetic
• Henry Hunt lost seat in parliament
• newly enfranchised m/c in leeds voted in a factory owner

Question 2

Was the 1833 Factory Act successful?

Answer 2

• only restricted working hours for children
• didn’t help improve working conditions

Question 3

What was the 1835 Municipal corporations act?

Answer 3

• extended vote to all ratepayers
• ratepayers had to own property so excluded w/c
• w/c shut out of political process

Question 4

What was the war of the unstamped press?

Answer 4

• poor mans guardian priced at a penny which disobeyed law
• other newspapers followed Henry Hetherington’s lead
• Whig gov gave in and lowered tax in 1836
• showed organised and determined campaign could enact change

Question 5

What was the 1834 poor law?

Answer 5

• cut increased cost of ‘indoor relief’ and abolished ‘outdoor relief’
• poor relief only available in workhouses
• w/c saw as robbing their right to poor relief
• showed parliaments control over their lives

Question 6

How did w/c campaign against the poor laws?

Answer 6

• Fergus O’Connor set up Northern star in leeds
• radical MP John Fielden proposed repeal of poor laws in House of Commons which was voted against 309 to 17
• showed working men would have to enter parliament to enact change

Question 7

What were the six points of the charter?

Answer 7

• universal manhood suffrage
• vote by secret ballot
• annual parliaments
• payment for MP’s

Question 8

What was the London Working Men’s association (LWMA)?

Answer 8

• formed in 1836, led by William Lovett
• promoted political and social rights
• organised peaceful protests

Question 9

What was the Birmingham Political Union (BPU)?

Answer 9

• led by Thomas Attwood
• reorganised BPU in 1837 into a more radical programme
• new set of proposals, including universal suffrage

Question 10

What was the Great Northern Union (GNU)?

Answer 10

• O’Conner combined his different organisations into the GNU
• founded the Northern Star as its newspaper
• by 1839, selling 50,000 copies a week