The failure of Chartism was due to improved economical conditions rather than the movement's own lack of unity

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The failure of Chartism was due to improved economical conditions rather than the movement's own lack of unity. How is this true to a degree? 20Marks

The given statement is true to a point that improved working conditions defeated the cause for petitioning of the working classes however as highlighted above, I think the many Chartists leaders caused divisions in the movement thus preventing it to act as a unit.

I do agree with the given statement that the Chartism movement was one developed through economic motives and one present in a society of industrial change but there are other reasons which add to its failure as a movement such as this lack of unity.

These other reasons combined are equally important in explaining this failure but I believe a movement with an economical backbone would fail to be supported in a society where economical conditions are on the up.

In the late 1830's when the first petition was put together the country especially in the East of Lancashire such as Liverpool was experiencing rapid industrialisation thus high unemployment and much an economic slump, this affected the lives of ordinary working people which lead to Chartism being strongest in areas like these. Leading historian Edward Royle is quoted as saying: "Chartism was fired by economical discontent". This I believe was the most important factor in the collapse of the chartist movement as chartist activity was strongest in areas where domestic industries were in decline however as conditions were improved in these areas support for Chartism dropped.
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To counter the economic distress at the time and to improve trade Prime Minister Robert Peel introduced a series of reforms like the repealing of the Corn Laws in 1846 and Mines Act of 1842, as a result food consumption increased as did wages. As for the railway boom in this period, Chartism was at least effective in the areas concerned as the unemployment here was soaked by the workers needed.

In 1839 the rural police act ensured that a nationwide police force was able to monitor and deal with any outbreak of discontent. In addition ...

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