Chartism in Stoke-on-Trent

 

 Chartism, popular movement in Great Britain from 1838 to 1848 for electoral and social reform. The word is derived from the People's Charter, the name given to a programme of reform submitted to Parliament in 1837 by the London Working Men's Association, under the leadership of William Lovett and Francis Place. The Chartist movement, which the association sponsored, resulted from widespread dissatisfaction with the Reform Act of 1832 and the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, legislation that workingmen considered discriminatory.

In 1842 Chartists presented a second petition signed by three million supporters to Parliament, which again refused to listen to their demands. Although the Chartist movement gradually faded into insignificance, all of its demands, except that for annual parliamentary elections, eventually became law.

Stoke-on-Trent potters and colliers were involved in the charter, resulting in riots, imprisonment & deportation in 1842.

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Page Contents
1 The rise of Chartism
2 Elections in Stoke-on-Trent in the 1830-40's
1832 | 1837 | 1841
3 Events in the Potteries in 1842 & Social Control
4 Grand Meeting in the Potteries: Northern Star Newspaper, 17th November, 1838
5 .....article continued.
6 Letter from George Ryles, Superintendent of Police, Burslem to George Phillips Esq. Chief Constable of Burslem, 23rd July 1839
7 Longton: Northern Star Newspaper, 6th March 1841
8 Address of the Female national Charter Association of Upper Hanley and Smallthorne: Northern Star Newspaper, 29th Jan, 1842
9 A visit by Feargus O'Connor, 28th May 1842
    As reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Newspaper.
10 1842 petition.....  
11 Ward ("The borough of Stoke-on-Trent") added an account of the events as part of an appendix to his book:
12 ....ward's account continued.
Table of deportation & imprisonment sentences. 
13 Early development of 1842 General Strike
14 Conclusion
15 Sources and further studies

also see an account of Jeremiah Yates - a leading Potteries Chartist

 

updated: 4 Jan 2003