Repressive Action Against the Second Reform Act

By enfranchising the middle classes, the union between the middle and working classes was destroyed

July 1839 - government rejected Chartist petition 235 - 46

1839/41 - 500 Chartist leaders held in prison

             - made them unwilling to risk any radical action

1842 - second Chartist petition rejected by larger margin of 43

1848 - government declared the Kennington Common rally illegal

        - enrolled 8,000 soliders and 150,000 special constables

         - declined third petiton

Goverment undermined the threat of Chartism which diluted the support and its effectiveness: 

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