A brief history - The UK Fight for the Vote – Chartism

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Chartism was a movement during the 1830's –1850's that sought to improve the conditions of ordinary working men through the securing of the 6 points of The Charter. The Charter originated with the London Working Men's Association, which had been set up in 1836, in the words of William Lovett, “to draw into one bond of unity the intelligent and influential portion of the working classes in town and country. To seek by every legal means to place all classes of society in possession of equal political and social rights”.

• A VOTE for every man twenty one years of age, of sound mind, and not undergoing punishment for crime.
• THE SECRET BALLOT. To protect the elector in the exercise of his vote.
• NO PROPERTY QUALIFICATION for members of Parliament - enabling the constituencies to return the man of their choice, whether he was rich or poor.
• PAYMENT OF MEMBERS, enabling an honest tradesman, working man, or other person, to serve a constituency, when taken from his business to attend to the interests of the country.
• EQUAL CONSTITUENCIES, securing the same representation for the same number of electors.
• ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS, stopping bribery and intimidation.

These points were drafted into “The People's Charter” at a meeting held at the British Coffee House, London, on the 7th of June, 1837. Across the UK groups were set up to campaign for the 6 points of the Charter, and in South East Wales Henry Vincent (who had been one of he men involved in developing the 6 points of The Charter) became one of the most dominant characters – editing the Chartist paper “The Vindicator” and speaking to groups of workers across the region.

Vincent was doing such a good job that in 1838 he was arrested and held at Monmouth gaol. In 1839 the first Chartist petition with over 1,280,000 names was presented to Parliament – but was rejected by 235 votes to 46 when debated by Parliament in July.

There were 2 distinct groups of people seeking the Charter – those who wanted to achieve it through persuasion and those who wanted to use force. In South East Wales things came to a head in November 1839, when over 3000 men marched on Newport, to seek the Charter (or some say to free Vincent or else to start an uprising across the UK). The march assembled around the Westgate Hotel and somehow a shot was fired and the soldiers that were hidden within the hotel shot out at the crowd – over 20 died.