The Chartist movement
The origins of this movement can be traced back to 1832. The Reform Act enacted by the British parliament failed to extend to right to vote beyond those owning property. Moreover, the new Poor Law Amendment, which was passed in 1834, deprived working people of any social welfare. This drew a massive backlash from the working class. In 1836, William Lovett and Henry Hetherington, founded the London Working Men's Association.
William Lovett (1800-1877) Henry Hetherington (1792-1849)
In 1838 a People's Charter was drawn up by same association. It had six demands:
- All men to have the vote (universal manhood suffrage)
- Voting should take place by secret ballot
- Parliamentary elections every year, not once every five years
- Constituencies should be of equal size
- Members of Parliament should be paid
- The property qualification for becoming a Member of Parliament should be abolished
The petition was presented to the House of Commons with over 1.25 million signatures in 1839, but it was firmly rejected. This created unrest which was crushed almost immediately by the authorities. A second petition was presented in May 1842, this time signed by more than 3 million people. As you might have guessed, it was rejected again. The last attempt was in 1848.
The Great Chartist Meeting on Kennington Common, London, 1848
Chartist leaders organized a great meeting on Kennington Common in South London where a new petition was signed and sent to the Parliament. And IT WORKED. Just kidding fellas. It was rejected once again😂😂😂. Unfortunately, the public support for the movement faded away within the coming years, but its legacy remained. Eventually, British political elites accepted the idea of some reforms and the parliament passed further Reform Acts in 1867 and 1884. By 1918, 5 of the Chartists' 6 demands had been achieved. Only the stipulation that parliamentary elections be held every year remained unfulfilled.
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