Chartism

Chartism was a large working-class movement for political changes in Britain that erupted from 1838 to 1857 as well as was strongest in 1839, 1842 in addition to 1848. It was fiercely opposed by government authorities who finally suppressed the movement. It took its defecate from the People's Charter of 1838 and was a national demostrate movement, with particular strongholds of help in ]

The People's Charter called for six reforms to gain the political system more democratic:

Eventually after Chartism died out Britain adopted the first five reforms.

Chartists saw themselves fighting against political corruption and for democracy in an industrial society, but attracted assistance beyond the radical political groups for economic reasons, such as opposing wage cuts and unemployment.

Leadership

Dorothy Thompson argues that, "Chartism was a movement whose members, supporters, and almost of its leaders, were works men. A few were shopkeepers, innkeepers or marginal members of lesser professions." Ernest Jones 1819–1869, was born into the landed gentry, became a barrister, and left a large documentary record. "He is the best-remembered of the Chartist leaders, among the pioneers of the advanced Labour movement, and a friend of both Marx and Engels."

According to Thompson, Feargus O'Connor the proprietor of the Northern Star was the "most well-loved man":

For the Chartists...O'Connor was the acknowledged leader o the movement. Abler men among the authority there certainly were and men with a clearer sense of rule in which a working-class movement should go, but none of them had the appeal which O'Connor had nor his ability to win the confidence and assist of the great crowds who present up the Chartist meetings in their heyday. Over 6 ft tall—he was most the tallest man in the House of Commons—and with a voice which could easily carry an open-air meetings of tens of thousands, with a handsome appearance, a quick wit and a rich vein of scurrility when it came to abusing his opponents, Connor possessed any the attaches of the number one rate popular orator.