The Age of Reform: Chartist Movement and 19th Century Reforms

1. The age of Reform (note I have not yet had time to add references to the images in this presentation and will do so as soon as I can) Parsons UK/US History

2. The age of Reform Factory Act 1819 - some protection children. 1829 Metropolitan Police Act Reform Act 1832 (extended the franchise) Shaftesbury - Factory Act 1833 illegal to employ children under 13 more than 48 hours a week. Wilberforce - 1833 slavery abolished throughout the Empire Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 (workhouses) The People's Charter 1838 - protest movement gathered momentum Parsons UK/US History

3. The age of Reform Chartism This major movement (or general term for a number of parallel movements) took its name from the People's Charter of 1838 which set out a series of demands for reform (which would now seem innocuous enough!) They wanted: Parsons UK/US History

4. The age of Reform • 1. A VOTE for every man twenty one years of age, of sound mind, and not undergoing punishment for crime. • 2. THE BALLOT.--To protect the elector in the exercise of his vote. • 3. NO PROPERTY QUALIFICATION for members of Parliament—thus enabling the constituencies to return the man of their choice, be he rich or poor. • 4. 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. • 5. EQUAL CONSTITUENCIES, securing the same amount of representation for the same number of electors,--instead of allowing small constituencies to swamp the votes of larger ones. • 6. 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 twelvemonth; and since members, when elected for a year only, would not be able to defy and betray their constituents as now. Parsons UK/US History

5. The age of Reform to recap: i) universal male suffrage ii) vote by secret ballot iii) equal electoral districts iv) an end to property qualifications for MPs, and v) salaries for MPs vi) annual parliaments Parsons UK/US History

6. The age of Reform The 1832 Reform Act had extended the franchise to allow not only the Upper class but also the Upper Middle class to vote. However the Lower Middle class and the Working class were still essentially deprived of the vote. Most of the momentum for Reform came from the Lower Middle and Upper Working classes. Parsons UK/US History

7. The age of Reform In June 1839 a large petition was presented to Parliament. Parliament voted not to hear the delegates who presented the petition. A series of major meetings and demonstrations ensued. One, in Newport, Monmouthshire, ended in some twenty demonstrators killed (1839). Parsons UK/US History

8. "Chartists' Riots", from Wikipedia, "Chartism" Parsons UK/US History

9. The age of Reform In May 1842 another petition was collected with over three million signatures. Again Parliament took no notcie. At the same time (1841-2) there was a depression which led to a wave of industrial unrest, often combining economic and Chartist demands. Parsons UK/US History

10. The age of Reform Also renewed protests against Corn Laws (Corn Laws repealed in 1846 after Irish potato famine--to which we will return) In 1848 Chartists collected signatures for another petition. They claimed this time they had over five million signatures. They probably had two million. Parsons UK/US History

11. The age of Reform A Chartist Convention met in May and hammered out the following plan of action: 1st – That in the event of the National Petition being rejected by the House of Commons, this Convention prepare a National Memorial to the Queen to dissolve the present Parliament, and call to her council such ministers only as will make the People's Charter a cabinet measure. Parsons UK/US History

12. The age of Reform 2nd – That this Convention agree to the convocation of a National Assembly, to consist of delegates appointed at public meetings, to present the National Memorial to the Queen, and to continue permanently sitting until the Charter is the law of the land. Parsons UK/US History

13. The age of Reform 3rd – That this Convention call upon the country to hold simultaneous meetings on Good Friday, April 21st, for the purpose of adopting the National Memorial, and electing delegates to the National Assembly. 4th – That the National Assembly meet in London on April 24th. 5th – That the present Convention shall continue its sittings until the meeting of the National Assembly. Parsons UK/US History

14. The age of Reform Great demonstration 10 April 1848 (time of European unrest and revolution, e.g. France). Massive demonstration, but also massive preparations for police, special constables etc Parsons UK/US History

15. "Chartist Meeting, Kennington Common" from Wikipedia, Chartism Parsons UK/US History

16. The age of Reform At Kennington Common some 20-50,000 people assembled to form a procession to deliver the petition. However the petition was delivered by a small delegation and the Chartists dispersed, recognising the authorities had the stronger hand. Why did they not begin a revolution, while much of Europe was going through the turmoil of revolt (France, Germany, Italy, ...)? Parsons UK/US History

17. The age of Reform Chartism then seemed to peter out. Its aims were however gradually realised, except for the demand for an annual parliament, by the time of the 1867 Second Reform Act, which substantially increased the number of people who could vote. Parsons UK/US History

18. The Victorian era Queen Victoria 1837 after death William IV. Young Queen, married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha with whom she had 6 children. Tended to interefere in government more than would normally be considered constitutionally proper (e.g. contacting commanders in the field without informing minister) Parsons UK/US History

19. The Victorian era Great Exhibition 1851. Crystal Palace. Britain "was the world's leading industrial power, producing more than half its iron, coal and cotton cloth." http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/lj/victorian_britainlj/industry_invention_1.shtml Showed Britain's leading position in manufacturing etc Successful and profitable. Taste for Gothic architecture: see Houses of Parliament and Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand. Also Italianate styles see Foreign Office. Parsons UK/US History

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22. The Victorian era Indian Mutiny 1857 (Sepoys Revolt, ...) 1862 Albert died and a distraught Queen Victoria withdrew from public life until Disraeli (Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative PM) persuaded her to return to public life as Empress of India 1876. Imperial expansion. Disraeli brought shares of Suez Canal. Parsons UK/US History

23. The Victorian era Fighting in Sudan (Gordon of Khartoum 1888). Afghan wars Fachoda 1898 Ireland and Home Rule Gladstone (Liberal PM) believed Ireland should be allowed to govern its own affairs. However the Home Rule Bill was defeated in 1886. Second Home Rule Bill introduced by Gladstone in 1893: passed by Commons but defeated by Lords. Parsons UK/US History

24. The Victorian era Disraeli died 1881, Gladstone 1898. Victoria died 1901. Edward VIII Edwardian period 1900 Labour Representation Committee (1906 Labour party) Drift towards WWI : imperial rivalry entente cordiale 1904 Parsons UK/US History

25. The Edwardian era 1905 Liberal government Liberals : strengthened trade unions (protection from liability for losses caused by strikes). Attempted to introduce extensive welfare provision. Opposed by Lords. Legislation vetoed 1909. Parsons UK/US History

26. The Edwardian era New general election Jan 1910. Liberals won again (with Labour). Again Dec 1910. 1911: new legislation limiting power of Lords (Parliament Act 1911). King had threatened to create 200 Liberal peers otherwise. Parsons UK/US History