In Our Time
Chartism
Mar 9, 2023
Joan Allen, a history fellow with expertise in the Chartist movement, Emma Griffin, a modern British history professor, and Robert Saunders, a reader in modern history, delve into the rich tapestry of Chartism. They discuss the monumental 1838 Glasgow demonstration and the People's Charter’s calls for reform. Insight into the social fabric shows how the movement unified a disparate working class while facing government repression. The guests highlight the crucial roles women played in activism and how Chartism's legacy paved the way for future reforms.
51:01
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Quick takeaways
- The Chartists aimed to achieve voting rights for all men through political reform, including voting by secret ballot, equal constituencies, and removing property qualifications for members of parliament.
- Industrialization played a significant role in the rise of Chartism, allowing for the spread of their ideas and the mobilization of the working class on a national scale.
Deep dives
The Living Conditions in the 1820s and 1830s
During the 1820s and 1830s, the living conditions for working people deteriorated rapidly. Skilled workers had relative independence, education, and dignity in their work, but the erosion of the apprentice system and the decline of skilled work destroyed this way of life. For the laboring poor, living conditions were appalling. They lived in squalid conditions, overcrowded areas, with poor diets and a sense of hopelessness. There was agitation and demands for change, especially from skilled workers who saw a more democratic system as the solution to their social issues.
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