8 May 1838
The People's Charter

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The People's Charter is published by the London Men's Working Association. Fuelled by anger about poverty, dire working conditions and the lack of rights, it calls for six main reforms: the vote for all men over 21, secret ballots, men without property to be allowed to become MPs, equal constituency sizes (doing away with unfair representation), annual elections and the payment of MPs (so people without private incomes can take up seats).

Chartism attracts supporters from many regions, especially industrial towns in the Midlands and the north of England. Two main strands develop within the movement: 'moral force' Chartism, led by William Lovett, which hopes to change the system through non-violent protest and education, and 'physical force' Chartism, led by Feargus O'Connor, which advocates violent uprisings where necessary. In Scotland, Chartism develops an explicitly Christian dimension.

In 1839, the Chartists collect 1.2 million signatures in a petition demanding change from Parliament. This is overwhelmingly rejected by MPs. Subsequent petitions are also rejected but the Chartists' six main points become part of the political landscape, and by the end of the century, several have been achieved (see 1872 Ballot Act and 1884 Reform Act).

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