To What Extent Was the Growth of Chartism the Most...

To what extent was the growth of Chartism the most significant development in the popular protest in the period 1815-1848? I think that Chartism was the least significant development in the popular protest period 1815-1848 because they did not achieve any reform until after the Chartist movement had ended by 1849. This was mainly due to the fact they had so many diverse aims and members which led to their weakness, they were not united under a single aim like other groups such as the Anti-Corn Law League which led to them trying too much in a short space of time being labelled as the ‘Umbrella movement’. I think that the Anti-Corn Law League was the most significant development in the popular protest in the period 1815-1848 because they†¦show more content†¦The Swing Riots was the next most significant development because this was the first large scale demonstration of agricultural labourers in the south which fuelled a fear of revolution in Britain. The Swing Riots also influenced the Poor Law amendment act of 1834 which abolished outdoor relief and was replaced by the workhouse. They also influenced the Tithe commutation act 1836 and the Great Reform Act 1832. Despite these influences there were limitations to the influence of Swing as conditions in the countryside remained poor for agricultural labourers and wages and working/living conditions did not improve for them at all. The new poor law also meant that people had to go into the workhouse if they couldn’t support themselves. The Tithe remained an economic burden for rural communities and they did not benefit from the 1832 reform act. Merthyr rising was also a significant development in popular protest as they impacted on the reform act because there was a fear of revolution because this was an organized mass protest and one of the motives of the protest was the rejection of the 1st reform bill. The riot showed the increasing influence of other groups like the Trade Unions and the spread of radicalism. The Merthyr Riots also saw the first welsh working class martyr in Dic Penderyn who was arrested during the riots. Although, there were limitations to the influence of the Merthyr Riots as the Truck