Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Chartism, c1838–c1850 — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Chartism, c1838–c1850 explained
Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Chartism, c1838–c1850 covers 3 specification points, including Chartism’s aims and actions; importance of the… and Fluctuations in support among different….
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Chartism’s aims and actions; importance of the National Convention, 1839, the Newport Rising, 1839, the Petitions (1839, 1842, 1848) and the Kennington Common rally, 1848; the roles of Lovett and O’Connor; reasons why Chartism failed to achieve its aims by 1850.
Chartism sought the six points of the People’s Charter: universal male suffrage, secret ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, payment of MPs and abolition of the property qualification. Its actions included the 1839 National Convention, which coordinated a petition and debated ‘ulterior measures’; the Newport Rising in November 1839, when armed marchers were fired on; three great petitions in 1839, 1842 and 1848; and the Kennington Common rally in April 1848, after which the petition’s signatures were disputed. Lovett favoured moral force, education and petitioning; O’Connor combined fiery oratory with the Land Plan and physical-force rhetoric. Failure by 1850 stemmed from internal divisions, government repression, economic recovery and the refusal of Parliament to concede.
Fluctuations in support among different sections of society, and reasons for this.
Chartism's support fluctuated across classes, regions and time. In 1839, mass meetings and the petition attracted wide backing, but after rejection and arrests, support fell. In 1842, the Plug Plot strikes revived it, linking political and economic grievances. By 1848, the third petition drew huge crowds, yet fizzled out. Support varied by class: skilled artisans and handloom weavers were core, while middle-class reformers often withdrew, fearing revolution. Regionally, industrial north and Midlands were strongholds, but rural south was quieter. Reasons include economic depression, government repression, leadership divisions, and the rise of rival movements like the Anti-Corn Law League. Understanding these fluctuations requires analysing local and national factors.
Government responses; the significance of Major General Napier; the impact of the growth of a rail network.
Government responses to Chartism included repression and limited concession. In 1839, ministers sent troops, arrested leaders, and rejected the petition. By 1842, they used force to break strikes. In 1848, they swore in special constables and used the military to deter a mass rally. Major General Napier, commanding troops in the north in 1839, showed restraint, avoiding bloodshed; his significance lies in preventing escalation without excessive force, despite his own radical sympathies. The growth of the rail network enabled rapid troop deployment, making government suppression more effective. Railways also spread news and ideas, inadvertently aiding protest coordination. Thus, government responses combined coercion with emerging infrastructure.
Your focus
- Describe the aims of Chartism and the significance of the National Convention, the Newport Rising, the three petitions and the Kennington Common rally.
- Compare the roles and approaches of Lovett and O’Connor in leading and shaping the movement.
- Evaluate the reasons why Chartism had failed to achieve its aims by 1850.
Show all 9 objectives
- Students can identify at least three periods of fluctuating Chartist support and explain reasons for each.
- Students can compare support among different social groups using specific examples.
- Students can evaluate the relative importance of economic, political and social factors in causing fluctuations.
- Students can describe key government responses to Chartism in 1839, 1842 and 1848.
- Students can explain the significance of Major General Napier's actions in 1839.
- Students can evaluate the impact of the rail network on both government suppression and Chartist activity.
Paper 3, Option 36.1: Protest, agitation and parliamentary reform in Britain, c1780–1928 - 2 Chartism, c1838–c1850 exam tips
Marking Points
- Outlines the six aims of the People’s Charter and explains how they were intended to make Parliament accountable to working men.
- Explains the purpose and significance of the 1839 National Convention as a coordinating body that debated tactics and presented the first petition.
- Describes the Newport Rising of 1839 and assesses its impact, including arrests and the government’s use of force.
- Compares the three petitions of 1839, 1842 and 1848, noting the scale of support and the reasons each was rejected or discredited.
- Analyses the Kennington Common rally of 1848 and the controversy over the number of signatures on the petition.
- Contrasts Lovett’s moral-force emphasis on education and peaceful agitation with O’Connor’s leadership, oratory and Land Plan.
- Evaluates multiple reasons for Chartism’s failure by 1850, including internal divisions, repression, economic improvement and parliamentary resistance.
- Explains how economic conditions (e.g., 1837-42 depression, 1842 Plug Plot) increased or decreased support.
- Analyses the role of government repression (arrests, transportation) in reducing active support.
- Compares support among different classes: skilled workers, handloom weavers, middle-class radicals, and rural labourers.
- Assesses the impact of leadership divisions and tactical disagreements (e.g., moral force vs physical force) on support.
- Evaluates regional variations, such as strong support in Lancashire and Yorkshire versus weaker support in agricultural areas.
- Considers the influence of rival movements (e.g., Anti-Corn Law League, trade unions) in drawing away support.
- Describes government actions: rejection of petitions, arrests, use of troops, special constables.
- Explains Napier's role in 1839: his decision to avoid confrontation and its impact on Chartist morale.
- Assesses how railways allowed quick movement of troops to trouble spots, enhancing government control.
- Evaluates the dual impact of railways: facilitating both suppression and the spread of radical ideas.
- Compares government responses in 1839, 1842 and 1848, noting shifts in tactics.
- Considers the significance of Napier's restraint in contrast to other military interventions.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Organise answers around aims, actions and reasons for failure, using specific dates and names to support each point.
- 💡When discussing the petitions, distinguish between the numbers claimed and the official response, and explain why the discrepancy mattered.
- 💡For failure, avoid single-cause answers; weigh internal and external factors and show how they interacted.
- 💡Use specific evidence (e.g., number of signatures on petitions, names of leaders, locations of meetings) to illustrate fluctuations.
- 💡Structure your answer thematically (class, region, time) to show clear analysis of reasons.
- 💡Link fluctuations to broader context (e.g., economic cycles, government policy) to demonstrate understanding.
- 💡Use specific examples (e.g., Napier's troops in Manchester, railway lines used in 1842) to support your points.
- 💡Analyse the significance of Napier by considering what might have happened without his restraint.
- 💡Link the rail network to both government and Chartist activities to show balanced understanding.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the Newport Rising with a peaceful petition: correction — it involved armed marchers and was suppressed by troops, leading to transportation of leaders.
- Assuming the 1848 petition was accepted because of its size: correction — Parliament rejected it and the disputed signatures damaged Chartist credibility.
- Treating Lovett and O’Connor as holding identical views: correction — Lovett stressed moral force and education, while O’Connor often used physical-force language and promoted the Land Plan.
- Error: Treating Chartist support as constant throughout 1838-1850. Correction: Recognise peaks (1839, 1842, 1848) and troughs (1840-41, 1843-47) and explain causes.
- Error: Assuming all working-class people supported Chartism. Correction: Note that some workers prioritised trade unionism or were intimidated by employers.
- Error: Ignoring the role of women in Chartism. Correction: Include female Chartist associations and their fluctuating involvement.
- Error: Overstating middle-class support. Correction: Explain that many middle-class reformers withdrew after 1839 due to fear of revolution.
- Error: Claiming Napier was purely a reactionary military figure. Correction: Napier actually held radical sympathies and understood Chartist grievances, which informed his restraint.
- Error: Overlooking the role of local magistrates and yeomanry. Correction: Include their actions alongside central government.
- Error: Assuming railways only helped the government. Correction: Note that railways also helped Chartists travel and communicate.
- Error: Stating that government always used violent repression. Correction: Acknowledge instances of restraint and the use of legal measures.