Chartists

CHARTISTS =Key Concepts and terms.=

Chartism was a working class movement for political reform in Britain between 1838 and 1848. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. It was the first mass working class labour movement in the world. It began as a petition movement which tried to moblize "moral force", but soon attracted men who advocated strikes and violence, like Feargus D'Connor. The People's Charter called for six basic reforms to make the political system more democratic:
 * 1) universal male suffrage
 * 2) a secret ballot
 * 3) no property qualification for members of Parliament
 * 4) pay members of Parliament
 * 5) constituencies of equal size
 * 6) annual elections for Parliament

Chartism stems from 'grassroots movements', which is a term often referenced in the context of a political movement, which is related to the politics of a community. The name of the term implies that these movements usually happen very naturally and abruptly. Grassroots movements generally happen at a local level, but due to the outpour of volunteers assisting the local party the national party is ultimately affected as well. Grassroots movements use a variety of techniques to organize and lobby, such techniques include: These movements are extremely important in politics due to their ability to raise specific issues to a national level as well as collect public opinion.
 * Holding house meetings or parties
 * Putting up posters
 * Sharing knowledge of their party by going door to door, or talking to pedestrians in the street.
 * Collecting signatures for petition
 * Setting up information tables
 * Raising money for advertising and campaigns
 * Organizing large demonstrations
 * Using the internet to promote and advertise

**Important Figures** Feargus O’Connor began his career in politics in Ireland, but he left his career in order to be part of the chartist movement. He is the leading figure of the movement. He was respected by the workers and the people he was fighting for. In 1837, he moved to leeds and started //The Northern Star// newspaper. The paper was used to protest for workers but later on it became a tool for the chartists and it helped them with their protests.
 * Feargus O' Connor (1794-1855) **

O'connor was an excellent leader, he gave into popular demands and gave the people what they wanted. His speeches and lectures were something the people could relate to and understand. He wasn't a very peaceful man and he wanted to use 'physical force' in order to acheive his goals. O'connor was sentenced to 18 years in prison as a result of the government trying to abolish the movment. In April 1943, he showed his palns for a Land Scheme in //The Northern Star.// He was trying to make the working class more self-sufficient but the scheme eventually failed. All his petetions were rejected by the government, he was pronounced insane and was moved to an asylum. He died shortly after he was released.

**William Cuffay (1788-1870)** William Cuffay was an active London chartist, he was more of a left wing and tought that 'physical force' is necessary for obtaining representation in the government. The first time he was involved in politics was when he took part of the tailor's strike if 1834. He believed that workers needed needed representation in the government so he decided to join the chartist movemnt. He was voted president of the London Chartists in 1842. He was a supporter to Feargus O'Connor. He took part in O'Connor's second and third petitions but since they failed and he was deported to Tasmania.

**William Lovett (1800-1877)** William Covett is know as the 'moral force' behind chartism and was opposed to using 'physical force' and was against the methods of William Cuffay and Feargus O'Connor. He was part of the London Working Men's Association, which he had established along with some other people. The organization studied and debated on the ideas of chartism. Even though he was a peacful person, the government said he was resopnsible for the riot in Birmingham and was sent to jail for 12months. After he was released he stopped working for the chartism cause.

= = =Events on Chartism= =People's Charter= This document was written in 1838 mainly by William Lovett of the London Working Men's Association, stated the ideological basis of the Chartist movement. The peoples's Charter detailed the six key points that the Chartist believed were necessary to reform the electoral system and the suffering of the working classes. The six points were universal suffage ( the right to vote), No property qualification, annual parliaments, eual representation, payment of members and vote by secret ballot. =The Chartists’ ‘Dangerous Experiment’: The National Petition = On 2 May 1842, = = =Relation to Liberalism= Even though most of the Chartism efforts failed most of its concepts are present in modern day liberalism. Chartists were basically liberalists and they were also left winged. Chartists strived for equality for everyone and equality of opportunity. They wanted everyone to be treated fairly in the workplace. Chartists strived for the things modern day liberalists strive for. Chartism was a large step towards modern day liberalism and was probably one of the first stages of liberalism.

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