Concetti Chiave
- The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 aimed to encourage self-reliance by establishing harsh workhouses, separating families and worsening conditions for the poor.
- The Reform Bill of 1832 disappointed many as it favored the middle class, leading to the creation of the People’s Charter in 1838 advocating for universal male suffrage and secret ballots.
- Chartism emerged as the first significant working-class movement, spreading nationwide and pushing for parliamentary acceptance of the People’s Charter.
- Although Chartism ended in 1848, it spurred the growth of trade unions, cooperatives, and leagues, ultimately leading to gradual acceptance of many of its demands.
- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) was established in 1868, followed by the formation of the Independent Labor Party in 1893, which eventually became known as the Labor Party.
English Reforms
Some of the Acts of Parliament made life worse for the poor. In the conviction that people had to learn to stand on their own feet the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed in 1834; as a result workhouse were built, offering very hard conditions and separating men, women and children in different buildings, in the expectation that people would make an effort to look after themselves.
Working-class reformers saw clearly that their problems could be solved only by working-class representatives in Parliament.
Disappointed by the Reform Bill of 1832 which consolidated the power of the middle classes, they issued the People’s Charter (1838) which, among other things, advocated universal male suffrage and vote by secret ballot.Chartism was born; it was the first real working-class movement and it spread all over the country. Several petitions were presented to Parliament to get the Charter accepted, but they were rejected, and in 1848 the movement came to an end. However, it was not a failure because it inspired trade unions, cooperatives and leagues, and with time many of the demands were accepted and the right to vote gradually enlarged.
In 1850 and in 1860 unions of skilled workers began to grow, and in 1868 they joined together to start the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In 1893 the Independent Labor Party was formed. Election took the name of Labor Party.
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