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The Chartist movement (1838--1858) was the first mass working-class political movement in British history. Chartists demanded democratic reforms that would give ordinary working people a voice in Parliament. Although the movement failed in its immediate aims, five of its six demands were eventually achieved.
The Great Reform Act of 1832 had extended the vote to the middle classes but deliberately excluded the working class. Many working people felt betrayed.
| Cause | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exclusion from the vote | The £10 property qualification meant most working men still could not vote |
| Poor working conditions | Long hours, low wages, and dangerous factories; workers had no political power to change this |
| The Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) | Introduced harsh workhouses for the poor; widely hated by the working class |
| Economic depression | High unemployment and food prices in the late 1830s and 1840s |
| Disappointment with the Reform Act | Working-class activists had supported the campaign for reform but received nothing |
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