Chartism
1
The Basics
Chartism was a predominantly working class political
movement which existed between 1836 – 50, which attempted to
address working class grievances thrown up as a consequence of
the industrial revolution.
Chartism’s goal:
To force government to accept, by means of the mass petition,
the “Six Points of the People’s Charter”.
Governments’ acceptance of the six points would result in a
large influx of working men into parliament where they would
have the power to pass laws beneficial to the working classes
The People’s Charter
1
A vote for every man of twenty one years of age, of sound
mind, and not undergoing punishment for crime.
2
The Ballot, to protect the elector in the exercise of his vote.
3
No property qualification for members of parliament –
thus enabling the constituencies to return the man of their choice,
be he rich or poor.
4
Payment of members, thus enabling an honest tradesman,
working man, or other person to serve a constituency, when
taken from his business to attend the interests of the country.
The People’s Charter
5
Equal constituencies, securing the same amount of
representation for the same number of electors, instead of
allowing small constituencies to swamp the votes of large ones.
6
Annual parliaments, thus presenting the most effectual
check to bribery and intimidation, since though a constituency
might be bought once in seven years (even with the ballot), no
purse could buy a constituency (under a system of universal
suffrage) in each ensuing twelve months and since members,
when elected for a year only, would not be able to defy and
betray their constituents as now.
The Nature of earlier protest
1811-1818
Luddism, a blind, violent reaction
1815-1820 & 1829-32
Reform riots: Political
1833-1834
GNCTU: Industrial
1839-1850
Chartism: Political
What were the particular grievances of the Chartists and why did
Chartism emerge when it did?
1 Living and working conditions
2 Failure of the 1832 Great Reform Act
3 The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act
4 The failure of trade unionism
5 Trade depression, unemployment, hunger and anger
Causes of Chartism
1 Living and working conditions
Truck shops, truck wages and long (subsistence) pay
Slums (no building regulations)
Disease and early death. Infant mortality reached 1/3rd in
industrial areas
Dangerous conditions in work
Long hours. 1833 Factory Act meant failure of ‘Ten Hour
Movement’. Act applied to workhouse children only and only in
cotton mills
Causes of Chartism
2 Failure of 1832 ‘Great Reform Act’
Betrayed by middle classes, W/C still unenfranchised
3 The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834
Indoor relief only
Punished poor for poverty, poverty treated as a crime
Aim: reduction of taxes
Split families, Demeaning tasks
Conditions inside to be worse than life of the poorest outside
Andover Scandal
Causes of Chartism
4 Failure of trade unionism (Tolpuddle Martyrs 1834)
Failure of 1832 prompted move to industrial stage
GNCTU failure
Trade unions remain ‘dead letter’ until 1850
5 Trade depressions, unemployment, hunger and anger
Depressions: 1837, 1839, 1842, 1847
1848 ‘Year of Revolutions’ across Europe
Chartism becomes mass platform during depressions
Economic upturn provides employment, Chartism shrinks but
remains. Knife and fork question?