The Emergence of the Chartist Movement

The "People's Charter," drafted in 1838 by William Lovett and Francis Place was at the heart of a radical campaign for parliamentary reform of the inequity remaining after the Reform Act of 1832. The charter contained six points that were to be presented to parliament, these where:

Universal Suffrage

No Property qualifications

Annual Parliaments

Equal representation (constituencies of equal size)

Payment of members

Vote by ballot

Two national petitions incorporating the six points above were presented to parliament in May 1839 and May 1842, the first signed by 1.3 million people and the second signed by 3.3 million. The six points drawn up were not new revolutionary demands, they had been on the political agenda for at least half a century and this movement was seen by the working class as the right way to bring about change.

During the years 1815-1820 after wars with France there was increasing poverty in England. This coupled with the affects of an ever-increasing population meant that during the war year's industry expanded and thus produced more jobs. Subsequently when the wars ended people were left without jobs and unemployment was rife.

Chartists were working class people who believed the working classes had the right to have a say in the way the country was run. They believed that the aristocrats and landowners in government were out of touch with the population and did not adequately represent or understand the lives of the people whose lives they governed.

There are many short-term causes as to why Chartism emerged at this time. The working classes had given huge support to the middle class c...

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...sionment with the system of government they were being ruled by and called for change.

People who did not work in factories were worst hit as a result of the industrial revolution. Skilled workers whose skills were no longer required or found that more modern forms of production were taking their jobs. Weavers formed the vast majority of chartists during the late 1830's and early 1840's. These people were literate and had a sufficient grasp of politics in Britain and worked mainly on the fringes of the main areas of industry. Some of the strongest support for Chartism came from previously prosperous weaving areas, as the mechanized power loom became a permanent fixture in factories demand for these workers decrease and their economic situation worsened. Handloom weavers saw Chartism as a way in which they could defend an entire political and social culture.