The Chartist Movement

The Chartist Movement was a 19th-century working-class campaign in Britain aimed at expanding democracy. It emerged in the 1830s and 1840s, advocating for political reforms outlined in the People's Charter, which demanded universal male suffrage, secret ballots, and pay for Members of Parliament. The movement arose from widespread frustrations over social inequality and the lack of political representation for the working class. Although Chartist efforts for immediate change largely failed, they laid the groundwork for future reforms and contributed significantly to the development of modern democratic practices in Britain.