Early British Non-Violence and the Chartist movement The English Tradition, from Godwin to Lovett and the ‘moral force’ Chartists

Early Influences American Revolution, 1776 Popularised arguments for reform French Revolution, 1789 Aroused traditional political radicalism of the Ennglish middle class Rights of Man, Thomas Paine William Godwin (1756 – 1836) Utilitarianism Enquiry concerning political justice, 1793 Opposed violent revolution Redistribution of wealth

The origins of Chartism Chartist movement: 1838 – 48 Political reform/social regeneration Social aims inconsistent Working class movement? Earlier radical movements/ 1983 Reform Act Era rather than movement : Dorothy Thomson “thousands of working people considered that their problems could be solved by the political organisation of the country”

1832 Reform Act Act was designed to "take effectual Measures for correcting divers Abuses that have long prevailed in the Choice of Members to serve in the Commons House of Parliament” Limited reforms Widened the franchise but still excluded the working classes Political disappointment/anti capitalist notions As a result of the limited reforms a group of London Artisans conceived a “People’s Charter”

The People’s Charter, 1837 “to seek by every legal means to place all classes of society in possession of their equal political and social rights”

The People’s Charter, Every male over 21 is entitled to the franchise in his district after a residence of three months 2.Voting is by ballot 3.No property qualification for MPs 4.Parliament to be elected annually 5.There will be equal constituencies 6.payment of members enabling an honest tradesman or working man to serve a constituency

Marc Newman : “Workers were increasingly conscious of their numerical superiority and their vital importance in producing the wealth of society, and they saw the Charter as a stepping stone to advancing the interests of ordinary people”

Rejection of the Charter One and a quarter million signatures Rejected by a vote of 235 to 46 Leaders arrested Newport Rising, Nov 1939 A second petition with 3 million signatures was rejected in 1842; the rejection of the third petition in 1848 brought an end to the movement. Failure – Why?

Divisions within the movement The question of how to put the Charter into practice became central Belief in the power of moral force on one hand and the advocating of physical violence on the other

William Lovett and ‘Moral Force’ Led the originators of the Charter, the London Working Men’s association (1836) Secretary of Chartists (1839) National Association for Promoting the Political and Social Improvement of the People, 1841 Moral force would be sufficient to win the Charter

‘Moral Force’ Opposed use of physical force / disliked illegal activity Rely on persuasiveness and justice Public meetings, pamphlets and newspapers Alliance with middle classes Accused of “watering down” demands Focused on educational arguments

‘Physical Force’ George Julian Harney and insurrection Fergus O’Connor and the Northern Star “Again I say, we are for peace, but we must have justice – we must have our rights speedily: peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must” Violence as Chartism disintegrated at Ashton, Loughborough and Newcastle John Frost, Newport Rising, 4th November 1839

Would the Chartist movement have been more successful if the ‘Moral Force’ strategy had prevailed? How successful was the movement? Lack of consistency and unity Legacy

Yes Yes - a consistent, ‘Moral Force’ strategy may have resulted in a quicker achievement of their aims ‘Physical force’ destroyed credibility Riots Newport Rising, November 1839 Factions ‘Physical force’ associated with fake signatures

No Socialist perspective: Marc Newman Failure of moral rectitude and rational argument to win concessions from ruling class Use of revolutionary force essential

Points of discussion Why did the Chartist movement fail? Would violent or non-violent methods have been more likely to succeed?