The Chartist Movement (Political Reform in 19th Century Britain - Part 2)

Did you miss Part 1? Here is a link:
   • The Reform Act of 1832 (Political Ref...  

In the first segment of this lecture, I discussed the circumstances surrounding the passage of the Reform Act of 1832, which extended suffrage to the urban middle classes. However, the working classes were still left without a voice in government. In the 1830s, the Chartist Movement gained steam. Over a million people signed the People's Charter in 1838, only to be ignored by Parliament.

Chartists campaigned for democratic reform based on six points:

1. Universal male suffrage (over 21)
2. Equal sized electoral districts
3. Secret Ballot
4. Eliminate property qualifications for Parliament
5. Pay for members of Parliament
6. Annual elections of Parliament

Although Parliament ignored the People's Charter, conservative leaders did pass several laws to try to placate the Chartists (Mines Act, Corn Laws Repeal, Ten Hour Act). The high water mark of Chartism was the Great Chartist Meeting in 1848. In the long run, all of the Chartists demands were met except for annual elections, so the Chartists were visionaries in a sense.

In the next segment, I will examine the Corn Laws and the circumstances leading to their repeal.