The Origins of Chartism

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Why was the reform act of 1832 a disappointment?
The first reform parliament looked and behaved very much like those before 1832, less sympathetic to working class. Reform was very limited and neglected working classes, working classes felt betrayed by the middle classes who were now enfranchised.
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Why were many people initially enthusiastic about the 1832 reform act?
People hoped it would be the first step on the road to democracy, numerous working class people became involved in politics for the first time. It showed that a well organised campaign could achieve change in parliament
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What was the Ten Hour Movement?
A movement launched to limit the length of the working day in factories and mines to 10 hours
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What was the Factory Act of 1833 and why was it a disappointment?
Restricted the hours that children could work in factories but men and women still had to work long hours. Parliament had shown little interest in working class struggle
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When was the municipal corporations act passed?
1835
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What was the municipal corporations act?
an extension of the vote for local town councils to all ratepayers
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Why did the municipal corporations act exclude working classes from participating in local government?
Because to be a ratepayer one had to own property and very few of the working classes did so. Town councils began to establish modern police forces that the working classes found threatening
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What is an example of a victory for the working classes achieved in 1836?
The 'war of the unstamped press'
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What was stamp duty?
A tax imposed by the government that attempted to deprive the radical press of its working class readers because it made newspapers unaffordable
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Which newspaper defied the law of stamp duty and how much did it cost?
'The Poor man's Guardian' edited by Henry Hetherington was priced at a penny
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How many copies of the 'poor man's guardian' were sold each week?
15,000
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Between 1831 and 1836, how many sellers of unstamped newspapers were imprisoned?
740
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What was the outcome of 'the war of the unstamped press'?
in 1836 the whig government gave in and lowered the tax so that newspapers could be sold for 1 and a halfd
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Why was the outcome of 'the war of the unstamped press' significant?
An active press was vital in developing and spreading radical ideas and it showed that an organised movement could force the government's hand
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Why did the government decide to pass the poor law amendment act 1834?
It was designed to cut the increasing cost of poor relief as it would only be available in Workhouses. Terrible conditions in workhouses would deter the most needy from acquiring poor relief
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Why was there so much opposition to the Poor Law Amendment Act?
Because it demonstrated how little power the working classes had over their own lives and how much control parliament had over them. It robbed working classes of their 'right' to poor relief
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How did the Poor Law Amendment Act lead to the emergence of a mass movement?
Radical leaders began to tour the country, giving speeches, raising funds and setting up local clubs to oppose the law, Northern Star newspaper started which spread news and views across the country as the leading chartist paper
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What became clear to the working classes in 1837?
That parliament would not pass laws that would improve the lives of poor people due to their hostility towards the working classes. They had to enter parliament themselves to secure control over their own lives.
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When was the first period of severe trade depression and what was its effect?
1837-1842 and resulted in high bread prices and unemployment.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why were many people initially enthusiastic about the 1832 reform act?

Back

People hoped it would be the first step on the road to democracy, numerous working class people became involved in politics for the first time. It showed that a well organised campaign could achieve change in parliament

Card 3

Front

What was the Ten Hour Movement?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was the Factory Act of 1833 and why was it a disappointment?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

When was the municipal corporations act passed?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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