Mappa concettuale e riassunto su "THE CHARTIST MOVEMENT"

Introduction to the Chartist Movement

The Chartist Movement was a significant political movement in the United Kingdom during the 19th century. It was the first mass movement driven by the working classes, which grew following the failure of the 1832 Reform Act to extend the vote beyond those owning property. The movement was named after the People's Charter, a document that outlined the six demands of the movement. These demands included the abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament, the introduction of universal manhood suffrage, and annual parliamentary elections. The Chartist Movement was led by influential figures such as Feargus O'Connor, who was the editor of 'The Northern Star,' a weekly newspaper that promoted the Chartist cause.

The People's Charter

The People's Charter was a document that was drawn up for the London Working Men's Association (LWMA) in 1838. It was presented to the House of Commons with over 1.25 million signatures. The Charter outlined the six demands of the Chartist Movement, which included the abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament, the introduction of universal manhood suffrage, and annual parliamentary elections. The Charter was a significant document that inspired the Chartist Movement and became the basis for their demands.

The Rejection of Petitions

The Chartist Movement presented three petitions to Parliament, but all were rejected. The first petition was presented in June 1839 and was swiftly rejected by Parliament, provoking unrest that was quickly crushed by the authorities. The second petition was presented in May 1842 and was signed by over three million people, but it was also rejected, and further unrest and arrests followed. The third and final petition was presented in April 1848, but it was also rejected by Parliament. Despite the rejection of the petitions, the Chartist Movement continued to fight for their demands.

The Legacy of the Chartist Movement

Although the Chartist Movement did not achieve all of its demands, it had a significant impact on British politics. The stipulation that parliamentary elections be held every year was unfulfilled, but by 1918, universal manhood suffrage had been achieved. Further Reform Acts were passed in 1867 and 1884, which extended the right to vote to more people. By the 1850s, members of Parliament accepted that further reform was inevitable. The Chartist Movement paved the way for future political movements and inspired people to fight for their rights.

Feargus O'Connor and the Kennington Common Meeting

Feargus O'Connor was one of the most influential leaders of the Chartist Movement. He was the editor of 'The Northern Star,' a weekly newspaper that promoted the Chartist cause. O'Connor organised a mass meeting on Kennington Common in South London, which was attended by thousands of people. In April 1848, a third and final petition was presented to Parliament, but it was rejected, provoking unrest that was swiftly crushed by the authorities. The Kennington Common meeting was a significant event in the Chartist Movement and demonstrated the support that the movement had.

Conclusion

The Chartist Movement was a significant political movement in the United Kingdom during the 19th century. It was the first mass movement driven by the working classes and was led by influential figures such as Feargus O'Connor. The movement's demands, outlined in the People's Charter, included the abolition of property qualifications for members of Parliament, the introduction of universal manhood suffrage, and annual parliamentary elections. Although the Chartist Movement did not achieve all of its demands, it had a significant impact on British politics and paved the way for future political movements.