Chartism-EducationForum.pptVIP

Chartism cationforum.co.uk Beginnings Chartism started in 1836 with the formation of the London Working Men’s Association whose Secretary was William Lovett and chief adviser Francis Place. Soon over 150 similar associations were affiliated to the LWMA – the biggest one being it Birmingham led by Thomas Atwood and Feargus O’Connor (owner of the radical newspaper the Northern Star) The Charter Lovett and Place drafted a proposed Reform Bill based on the SIX POINTS of the PEOPLES CHARTER. The plan was to get Parliament to adopt these points in a new Reform Bill A mass petition was organised to be presented to Parliament and if it was rejected a “Sacred Month/National Holiday” or general strike to be called for a month First Petition By 1839 only about ? million signatures had been collected. Further campaigning made this figure rise to 1.25 million In July 1839 the petition was presented to parliament – Atwood proposed the Bill but it was overwhelmingly voted and laughed out, and the ‘Sacred Month’ duly called. Unfortunately support for the strike was patchy and it was called off almost before it had begun Newport Uprising Already leadership divisions between physical force and moral force Chartists were coming to a head. In November 1839 4,000 men (mostly coalminers) led by John Frost marched on Newport to free the Chartist leader Henry Vincent from jail and takeover the town. The Chartists met stiff resistance from troops who engaged them in musket fire with around 20 Chartists being killed and John Frost arrested. As a result of Newport yet more leaders were arrested by the authorities including Feargus O’Connor himself. The Second Petition In 1842 a second petition was organised and presented to Parliament – this time around 3.4 million signatures, Around 100,000 supporters processed the petition to Parliament who duly rejected it again. The ‘Plug Plot’ Riots followed in the northern industrial areas as protesters removed the plugs from steam engines making fact