Chartism

The 18th century can be marked as a period of internal and external struggle for the American colonists. From improper representation, to unfair taxes, such as the Stamp Act, to being overall abused by Britain, the colonists were justifiably angry. From this anger, the slogan “No taxation without representation” was born and quickly began to emerge from the lips of almost every colonist all across America. The demand from colonists everywhere for no taxation without representation weighed heavily as a symbol for democracy, as it revealed the mindset of many – Britain was using the hardworking colonists and took their money without even giving them a say – and laid the foundation for the American revolutionary war, allowing more arguments and

Luddism, for example, was one of the ideologies that opposed the industrial changes that liberalism brought. The jobs of the skilled textile workers were lost and replaced by machines operated by unskilled laborers. The Luddites protested and even broke into factories, destroying many machinery. Chartism was another example of the response to the unrecognized individual rights. Chartism was a working- class movement with the main focus on political and social reform in society (Fielding, 2009, 132). The Chartists wanted a political and social reform in society because they could be granted the rights to participate in these aspects of society. Utopian Socialists were humanitarians who advocated an end to the appalling conditions of the average worker in the industrial capitalist countries (Fielding, 2009, 134). They believed that education and the improved working conditions could peacefully remove the worst aspects of capitalism and lead to an ideal socialist society where everyone would live happily. “It is therefore the interest of all, that everyone, from birth, should be well educated, physically and mentally, that society may be improved in its character; that everyone should be beneficially employed, physically, and mentally, that the greatest amount of wealth may be created and knowledge attained….” (Fielding, 2009, 135). Another essential resistance to liberalism was showcased by the ideology of classical conservatism. The beliefs of

‘Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals. Assess the validity of this statement with specific reference to the years 1825-1850.’

3. Urban industrialism dislocated women’s lives no less than men’s. Like men, women sought political change and organized to promote issues central to their lives, campaigning for temperance and woman suffrage., Susan B. Anthony, launched the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869, demanding the vote for women suffrage, though not yet generally supported, was no longer considered a crackpot idea. Thanks to the WCTU’s support of the “home protection” ballot, suffrage had become accepted as a means to an end even when it was not embraced as a woman’s natural right.

In the 19th century, anarchism was a growing movement that scared many people including Julian. Dr. Leete describes how it was in fact the wealthiest who funded them, so people would be afraid of reform. However, this was not enough because social change was not instigated by labor or political parties but by the vow by mankind to persevere and conquer the old order and usher in the new. Mr. Bellamy contrasts the anarchist and socialist movements in order posit the latter in a more favorable light.

"Describe the steps taken between 1832 and 1918 to extend the suffrage in England. What group and movements contributed to the extension of the vote?" Several groups, movements and reform bills passed between 1832 and 1918 extended the suffrage in England. The process took many years and the voting rights were first given to the wealthier and more distinguished men, then later to the less wealthy men, and finally to women. The major reform bills that extended the suffrage in England were the Reform Bill of 1832, 1867, and 1884, and the Qualification of Women Act in 1917. (Mazour, Peoples) The suffrage movement began in 1832 when the Reform Bill of 1832 was passed by parliment. The Prime Minister since 1830, Earl Grey, authored the Bill and

In England, a large portion of the population was being unrepresented in legislative decisions. As a result, the London Workingmen’s Association called for all people over the age of twenty-one to be a registered voter. (Document 3). This addendum to the People’s Charter voiced male suffrage of every man, regardless of social class or landowning status, to have equal rights. Some activists, like Pauline Roland, took the London Workingmen’s petition a step beyond and worked to earn universal suffrage for all people, both men and women. Roland wrote during the nineteenth century, where society was dominated by males. She published newspaper articles contending that true equality couldn’t be achieved if both men and women were heard from (Document 7).

The economic conditions was a major part in gaining support in chartism. Chartist reached out to the working class people who were struggling within society. The poor law and tax increases was making it harder for the working class people to survive, this lead to poverty and people entering the workhouse. Another factor was the poor working conditions and low wages that were causing ill heath. Evidence within the article to support how chartist gained support is “with this nation suffering its liberty and rights to be remorselessly trampled upon by murderous factions, jobbers and commercial blood sucking vampires” This is a sticking statement of how the middle class employers were seen as a higher class of people, who were exploiting the working class. Another point to make it that chartist struggled to gain support in agricultural places and that most of the support came form industrial cities were the population was higher. A reference to this is seen in a

To begin with, the American political system developed into a more involved citizen base. According to Document 6, the pattern of voter turnout rose exponentially from in 1828. We also saw another great increase in voting in 1840. This rise in participation can be accredited to the domestic issues that impacted America during the 1820s [Document 1]. One can also point out that the increase in voter participation can be directly linked to women’s suffrage. Women were oppressed during those times; they ached for equality [Document 7].

London Workingmen’s Association, in their petition to Parliament for the “People’s Charter”, claimed that “the labouring classes may be silently plundered or suddenly suspended from employment” if “every person producing proof of his being 21 years of age shall be entitled to have his name registered as voter” (Document 4). Along with universal suffrage for manhood, Chartism, the first large working class of Europe also wanted to abolish the property accommodation for the House of Lords, and wanted a secret ballot. Not only did men want suffrage, but women did as well. Pauline Roland, a French writer and political activist, wrote in the letter to the editor of the French newspaper that “Woman is entitled to work as is Man” (Document 8). As men gained more independence, women rose up to argue for their rights. Alexandre Millerand, a member of the French national Legislature said in his speech that “we address ourselves only to universal suffrage; out ambition is to bring about through this means economic and political liberation of all” (Document 12). The working class believed that by attaining suffrage and equality, not only would they be able to live happier lives, but the economy would change for the better. They believed that it was through this advancement, rather than revolution, that change would

Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto was most appealing to and revolutionary for the industrial workers of 1848 (and those to come after that time). The call for unification of the proletariat and abolishment of the Bourgeoisie was an urgent one during a time of rapid progress in all aspects of industrial life. This urgency of The Communist Manifesto and the desire for change of political ideologies (to match the exponential rate of progress of wealth and industry) created not only a spate of revolutions, but a long lasting change in political ideas for industrialized European nations. The Communist Manifesto created a sense of unity and class awareness throughout the

There were a few major ideas or movements that became increasingly popular in Europe in 1848. These ideas were very important in the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx with the help of Frederick Engels. The first idea was socialism, which could be defined as: “an economic system based on collective ownership of the means of production, economic planning, and the equal distribution of goods and services.” In this new way of thinking, agriculture and manufacturing satisfied essentially all of humans wants and needs. According to the Manifesto, this new economic structure would lead to a shift in ownership of production from the bourgeois to the proletariat party. There would be no longer be a need for any set positions or responsibilities. Instead, there would be an emergence of the working class.

The main issue is one that affected most of Society in the early 20th century.The main issue stemmed from outcry at The Great Reform Act 1832 which was introduced to amend the representation of the people in England and Wales. Before the 1832 Reform Act most men and all women did not have the vote. This act created a wider franchise but used the term ‘male person’, specifically excluding women. Alternative acts helped to enfranchise new sections of society and gave most men the vote, leaving sex the principal ground for disqualification. As a result, debates about ‘fitness’ for citizenship and the vote, which had previously centred around wealth, property ownership and education, now revolved around questions of gender. It was that women, did not have the right to vote for the men that were in power creating laws and such which they had to follow. The laws and aspects of society which they were made to follow without any say in the creation of them were things such as taxes. Women were denied the vote for many reasons, most being justified by men. Most men and some women at the time, against women gaining the vote believed in Conservatism, they thought that the way the laws were, had been the same for many years, and they saw no need to change something that ‘worked’ for ‘the benefit’ of ‘all’ those in society at the time. it was also a widespread belief that women should remain in the home and take care of their ‘natural duties’, such as cleaning, cooking, etc. Women at

The 18th century was a period of slow change for women’s rights in England. The Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution were coterminous at this point in history and brought the new thoughts about women’s rights to England in the late 1700s. In the 1700s women were not as concerned with voting as they were with divorce, adultery, and child custody rights. However, as the population of single women grew throughout the 18th and 19th century the concern for more rights for women became prevalent (Wolbrink, 4 Nov. 2011). By 1851, 43 percent of women in England were single and began to campaign frequency and sometimes forcibly for their rights (Wolbrink, 4 Nov. 2011). Reformer

Two political groups were crucial to the movement’s success largely because of the leadership provided by several women. These groups’ actions, structured by their leaders, had the goal of gradually changing people’s minds to supporting women’s right to vote and spreading the idea of social change. Groups worked tirelessly to educate British society about the importance of the