The Origins of Chartism.

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Chartism

The Origins of Chartism :-

  • The chartist movement had developed from lack of equality within the Great Reform Act of 1832.  The working class had believed that the parliamentary reform would enable them to have say in their own affairs.

  •  It was apparent that parliament had not intended to extend voting rights to the working class. Hardly any of the working class had been added to the electoral roll. Five out of six males did not have the right to vote (the issue of women had not even been addressed.)

  • The House of Commons at this point in time did not represent the working people. But instead those who lived off profits and usury (the charge of high interests on loans.)

  • The worker's sense of betrayal was amplified, by many occurring events in the 1830s:-
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A) Introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. According to the working class was aimed purposely to make their lives more unpleasant.

B) The Tolpuddle case (1834).

C) Failure of the factory act to improve factory conditions.

D) The Whig reforms - Municipal Corporations Act, Registration of births, Deaths and Marriages Act. Appeared as an extension of government interface without any gains for the workers.

E) Introduction of police forces in the localities. Which many workers regarded as part of the government policy of repression.

F) Collapse of the Grand ...

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