The Chartist movement and development in English society and Politics
(1838-1928)
Korean Minjok Leadership Academy
International Program
Lee, Se Hee
International Program
Lee, Se Hee
Ⅰ. Introduction
Ⅰ. 1. Approach to study
Ⅰ. 2. Definition
Ⅱ. Revolution
Ⅱ. 1. Background of the Chartist movement
Ⅱ. 2. Process of development of the movement
Ⅱ. 3. Characteristics of the movement
Ⅲ. Reaction
Ⅲ. 1. Parliament
Ⅲ. 2. Workers
Ⅲ. 3. Capitalists and Liberals
Ⅲ. 4. Women
Ⅳ. Reform
Ⅳ. 1. Accepting of people’s charter (five of the six by 1918) and electoral reforms
Ⅳ. 2. Expansion of working classes’ political role
Ⅳ. 3. Expansion of women’s role due to women’s enfranchisement (1928)
Ⅴ. Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Ⅰ. Introduction
Ⅰ. 1. Approach to study
In the modern world, United Kingdom seems that government is operating with developed democracy and people are satisfied in the society. However, observing more deeply, there were a lot of people’s sacrifices and efforts behind it. The Chartist movement was the part of history of the sacrifices, and at this point, we need to examine the roots of democracy and give attention to the value of people’s efforts and the importance of democracy.
Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to examine the Chartist movement divided into revolution, reaction, and reform, and to examine how the movement affected to England society and politics. At last, this paper will point out why the Chartist movement has special meaning and remains as an important event in the history. This paper also will cover the period from 1838 which the Chartist movement began to 1928 which is the year the complete universal suffrage was introduced.
Ⅰ. 2. Definition
In this paper, the contents are organized dividing into three; revolution, reaction, and reform. Revolution is a mass movement to change power or organizational structure –The Chartist movement itself in this paper-, reaction means the immediate response right after the movement, and reform includes not only changes to solve the problem which was pointed out in revolution, but also effects which the changes brought.
Liberals can be defined as a person who supported free market to pursue personal profits and rejected feudal group’s restriction and nation’s interference in this paper (1). Borough refers to a British administrative division (2). Polity means political system or structure, and it is measured into only two; autocracy and democracy in the source of this paper (3).
Ⅱ. Revolution
Ⅱ. 1. Background of the Chartist movement
After industrial revolution, working condition was unfavorable because there wasn’t any regulation or law about working hours and wages (4). Also, there was a wide difference between the lives of the rich and the poor. In this situation, working class’s complaints had been building up and they needed urgently to send a representative to the Parliament and solve the problem politically and to improve social environments. Meanwhile, before 1832, just 10 percent of British adult male were eligible to vote, and a large portion of this population was the rich (5). Although Reform Act of 1832 gave the vote to male middle class, working class didn’t get benefit from the Reform Act and they started the chartist movement demanding their rights to vote (6).
Ⅱ. 2. Process of development of the movement
As working class stepped up their demands for suffrage, William Lovett who was a Cornish cabinet-maker formed London working men’s association, and F.E O’ Connor published the newspaper named <Northern Star> to push ahead with labor movement. As labor group and movement were developed in this way, in 1838, working class published the People’s charter, which stipulated the six aims for change of British electoral system.
- A vote for every man twenty-one years of age, of sound mind, and not undergoing punishment for crime.
- The secret ballot. - To protect the elector in the exercise of his vote.
- No property qualification for members of Parliament - thus enabling the constituencies to return the man of their choice, be he rich or poor.
- Payment of members, thus enabling an honest tradesman, working man, or other person, to serve a constituency, when taken from his business to attend to the interests of the Country.
- Equal Constituencies, securing the same amount of representation for the same number of electors, instead of allowing small constituencies to swamp the votes of large ones.
- Annual parliaments, thus presenting the most effectual check to bribery and intimidation, since though a constituency might be bought once in seven years (even with the ballot), no purse could buy a constituency (under a system of universal suffrage) in each ensuing twelve-month; and since members, when elected for a year only, would not be able to defy and betray their constituents as now (7).
Based on these six points, working class petitioned Parliament presenting over millions of workers’ signatures, but the petition was rejected, and even Lovett got arrested. However, workers continued to the chartist campaign undauntedly, and during the period from 1841 to 1842, workers led to the wave of strikes. Workers submitted a petition which included over three million signatures in 1842, but the petition was again rejected by Parliament. After the petition in 1842, O’Connor kept developing the Chartist movement by publishing the <Northern Star>, and eventually workers tried to petition Parliament once again in 1848, but it also ended in failure. Finally, by the time the Chartist movement ended in 1858, any point of People’s Charter hadn’t been accepted.
Ⅱ. 3. Characteristics of the movement
As explained above, the Chartism was the first mass labor movement in the world, which was in between 1838 and 1858 in the United Kingdom (8). The Chartism was a voluntary movement of workers who strove to improve their unfavorable working condition, so workers’ volition to gain suffrage and to change the society and politics was reflected at the same time.
Ⅲ. Reaction
Ⅲ. 1. Parliament
Parliament rejected all working class’s petitions right away during the last three, in 1839, in 1842, and in 1848. In addition, as strike and movement became grew more active, they suppressed the wave of strikes and riots by force. However, seeing those movements on a national scale, they started to consider giving rights to speak in politics to working class and the improvement of living condition, to prevent working class’s radical protests (9).
Ⅲ. 2. Workers
Working class showed immediate response about Parliament’s rejection. Rejection of working class’s petitions made them unite more firmly, and therefore, strikes and riots became more active and violent, and labor groups were formed more frequently than before (10). Their firm resolution to accomplish the objective revealed on following <Northern Star> comment.
Three and half millions have quietly, orderly, soberly, peaceably but firmly asked of their rulers to do justice; and their rulers have turned a deaf ear to that protest. Three and a half millions of people have asked permission to detail their wrongs, and enforce their claims for RIGHT, and the 'House' has resolved they should not be heard! Three and a half millions of the slave-class have holden out the olive branch of peace to the enfranchised and privileged classes and sought for a firm and compact union, on the principle of EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW; and the enfranchised and privileged have refused to enter into a treaty! The same class is to be a slave class still. The mark and brand of inferiority is not to be removed. The assumption of inferiority is still to be maintained. The people are not to be free (11).
The comment on Northern Star shows that workers were outraged at Parliament’s rejection through their tone and expression, “Three and half millions have asked of their rulers to do justice; and their rulers have turned a deaf ear.” and also we can find that Northern Star tried to urge workers to get interests and to make more efforts to achieve their aim which is getting the suffrage.
 |
| Figure 1 |
Working class’s solidarity is also showed in the volume of Northern Star on May 14, 1842 which is a left-hand image, figure 1. May 14 in 1842 was just after submitting the second petition to Parliament. In this volume, O’Connor said, “My beloved friends, one thing in the midst of chaos is certain : We can neither stop, recede, or compromise. We must, at all hazards, go onwards, and teach to Europe and the world a great practical lesson of moral fortitude.”
From the sentence underlined in Figure 1, we can see that workers encouraged one another and tried to step forward toward their goals.
Ⅲ. 3. Capitalists and Liberals
On the contrary to workers’ reaction, Capitalists and Liberalists showed cold response about the Chartism and didn’t support working class (12). Because, basically, Capitalists pursued profits depends on their own abilities and capitals, while working class pursued mass democracy and government for the public (13). Liberals also rejected government’s intervention to society and economy in the sense of ideology of liberalism. Thus, Capitalists and Liberalists thought that if workers participate in politics, then they will demand workers’ rights, increase of income and welfare, and it will disturb automatic market forces and liberalism (14). Therefore, Capitalists and Liberals almost ignored labor unions’ movement.
Ⅲ. 4. Women
At that time, most women didn’t have desire to be enfranchised (15). For example, women writer such as Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot who wrote about Chartism didn’t show any support for universal suffrage (16). However, women naturally participated in the political demonstrations and meetings such as the Chartist movement because women had played large role as workers. Women composed over half the labor force in the cotton industry (17), and they could sympathize with workers’ difficulties working in the same industry with their families. In other words, women didn’t demand their suffrage directly, but they took part in the Chartist movement in active attitude as a worker and showed steady interest about the social problem they had faced.
Ⅳ. Reform
Ⅳ. 1. Accepting of people’s charter (five of the six by 1918) and electoral reforms
 |
| Figure 2 |
Although Parliament had rejected working class’s petitions during the Chartist movement, they reformed electoral system gradually after the Chartism, feeling the necessity of the change. In Reform Act of 1867, Benjamin Disraeli’s conservative government gave the vote to all male householders over 21 who had paid local tax for borough so that a large portion of male working class could get the suffrage (18). Government also redistributed seats and reformed borough enfranchise; government divided new districts in some counties, disenfranchised rotten boroughs and enfranchised new borough at the same time (19).
Eventually, five main points of the six in People’s charter became part of British law by 1918, except only one point which is demand for annual Parliament (22). Electoral reform continued even after the year when most of points in People’s charter had been accepted, so women over the age of 30 got rights to vote in 1918, and finally both male and female adult over 21 were enfranchised universal suffrage in 1928 (23).
Ⅳ. 2. Expansion of working classes’ political role
Due to working class’s enfranchisement in 1867 and in 1884, working class’s opportunity to participate in politics expanded, and their interest toward social and political phenomenon increased naturally. Thus, from 1844 to 1874, labor unions grew rapidly so that Trade Union Congress formed in 1889, and it activated labor unions’ movement and strikes as a result (24).
Furthermore, they recognized that political participant is the most pragmatic way to change something and tried to solve their problems in the way of taking an active part in politics. In the late 19th century, working class started to form their independent political power because they had realized that representative who can speak for worker’s profit in Parliament is needed. Consequently, Keir Hardie summoned 120 labor delegates and organized Independent Labour Party (I.L.P.) in 1839. With a lead of I.L.P., Labour Representation Committee (L.R.C.) also formed encompassing both labor groups and socialism groups in 1990. L.R.C. occupied 29 seats in a general election of 1906 and it was reorganized to Labour Party soon (25).
Ⅳ. 3. Expansion of women’s role due to women’s enfranchisement (1928)
Although the Chartist movement didn’t call female suffrage directly, the movement was helpful enough to recognize the value of women’s role not only in family, but also in industry. And it can be confirmed from R. J. Richardson argument for female suffrage at that time, “Woman contributes directly and indirectly to the wealth (26)”. Admitting the value of women’s role, there were supporters of female suffrage in the chartists and even one of the authors demanded to include the point about female suffrage in People’s Charter, but it wasn’t actualized because of concern that this might delay achievement of their goal (27).
Accordingly, the chartist movement couldn’t wield great influence upon women’s enfranchisement though there were women chartists and supporters of female suffrage. However, women who had participated in the Chartist movement organized the first association for female suffrage named the Nation Society for Women’s suffrage in 1867 (28). Following the first foundation, Millicent Fawcett who was an English suffragist formed the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies in 1897, and women kept claiming for their suffrage more actively than before (29).
In the end, as all women over 21 gained the vote in 1928, women’s voice in both politics and society grew louder and it elevated social status of women. That is, the Chartist movement gave impetus to women to demand due rights as a member of working class, and as a citizen in the country.
Ⅴ. Conclusion
 |
▲Figure 3 Measuring Democracy |
That is, the chartist movemnet which had led to electoral reforms made enormous development of democracy in Enlgand, and still, the prevailed democracy is acting as a motive power to grow the economy, politics, culture and society in England.
Notes
(1) Naver dictionary : “Liberalism”
(2) Wikipedia article: “Borough”
(3) Naver dictionary : “Polity”
Bruce , 5p
(4) Kim, Study material
(5) The British Library homepage
(6) Kim, Study material
(7) Wikipedia article : “Chartism”
(8) ibid
(9) Kim, Study material
(10) Na, p619
(11) Wikipedia article : “Chartism”
(12) Kim, Study material
(13) Kim, government for the public and market economy
(14) Ibid
(15) Wikipedia article : “Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom”
(16) Encyclopedia of Revolution 1848 : “Women chartists”
(17) June, p352
(18) Na, p645-646
(19) ibid,
(20) Wikipedia article : “Reform Act 1867”
(21) Na, p661
(22) The British Library homepage : Chartism
(23) Kim, Study material
(24) Na, p676-681
(25) Ibid
(26) Anna, p233
(27) Wikipedia article : “Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom”
(28) Michael, p387
(29) Wikipedia article : “Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom”
Bibliography
Sources for the Revolution
1. Woo Seokhun, Silent Revolution, Seoul : Redian, 2009
è Although this book has a limit that the author is not an expert of history, but this source organized well about the Chartist movement in chronological order.
2. Charles Breunig, The age of revolution and reaction 1789-1850, New York/ London : Norton, 1977
è This book offers process of the Chartist movement and brief explanation concisely.
Sources for the Reaction
1. Hwang Gyeong-sik and 10 others, 자유주의란 무엇인가 (What is a liberalism), Seoul : Seri (Samsung Economic Research Institue), 2001
2. Kim Seong-deuk, government for the public and market economy
è The writer of this article is one of the members who publish the magazine named “Manhang”.
3. <Norther Star> vol.5 (13 Nov 1841- 12 Nov 1842) http://ncse-viewpoint.cch.kcl.ac.uk/
è The <Northern Star> is the newspaper which published by F. E. O’ Connor who was one of the leaders at the Chartist movement from 1837 to 1852. During the movement, O’Connor made progress in the movement through the <Northern Star> because it was represented of labor unions. So, we can see the working class’s reaction at that time through this newspaper.
4. Anna Clark, The Struggle for the Breeches: Gender and the Making of the British Working, Berkeley and Los Angeles : University of California Press, 1995
è This book has a chapter about women workers’ problem during the Chartist movement. So, I could get the information of recognition about female workers and female suffrage from this source, and write the women’s reaction part.
5. June Purvis, Women’s history : Britain 1850-1945 Abingdon : Routledge ,1995
è This book shows female workers’ role in the Chartist movement. Based on women’s behavior during the movement, I could make a linkage between women’s reaction and reform which is women’s enfranchisement.
è This source explains definition of Liberalism and characteristics of liberalist.
Sources for the Reform
1. Na jong-il and Song Gyu-bum, 영국의 역사 (A history of Britain), Seoul : Han-ul Academy, 2005
è This book is dealt with Britain’s political development, social and economic change and cultural achievement all around for the past 2000 years. Also, authors reflected recent research date as possible as they can. This book also explains about general situation after the Chartist movement and the process of Reform Act. In addition, it provides information about working class’s political activity after the movement, so it was helpful to write the reform part.
4. Wikipedia article : “Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom”
5. Norman Rich, The age of nationalism and reform 1850-1890, New York/ London : Norton, 1977
8. Michael J. Romano, CliffsAP European History, Hoboken : Wiley Publishing. Inc, 2010
General sources
2. The British Library, “Chartism- The historical background” http://www.megapass.co.kr/~kks7665/c-5.htm
3. Kim Jong-min, Study material : The Chartist movement in England and Reform Act
è The writer of this study material, Kim Jong-min is a social study teacher in Mun-su high school which is located in Ul-san, Korea. He made this homepage to help learning politics, economics, law and society, social study, and culture in other high schools including Mun-su high school.
Images
1. Figure 1- <Norther Star> vol.5 (13 Nov 1841- 12 Nov 1842) http://ncse-viewpoint.cch.kcl.ac.uk/
2. Figure 2 – Cho Hwaryong, Middle school textbook : 중학교 사회 2, 금성출판사, Seoul : 2001
3. Figure 3 – Bruce E. Moon and 7 others, Voting count : Participation in the Measurement of Democracy, Department of International Relations; Lehigh University, 2004
è In the left y-axis of this graph, the number indicates how the polity is democratic. The polity score can be calculated in the way that democracy score minus autocracy score. The score ranges from -10 (pure autocracy) to +10 (pure democracy) considering aspects of institutional relationship and political rights.
Looong. I'm glad I don't have to write a Ganse Paper. How about a Garrblog?
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