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Hidden by Red Saunders: An Impressions Gallery touring exhibition, 9 March – 29 September 2013 William Cuffay and the London Chartists, 1842. Overview. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Hidden by Red Saunders: An Impressions Gallery touring exhibition, 9 March – 29 September 2013
William Cuffay and the London Chartists, 1842
Overview
William Cuffay was one of many Chartists active in London during the 19th century. The Chartists presented a series of demands in the ‘The People’s Charter.’
William Cuffay
Fact Sheet
•Born in Chatham, 1788
•Grandson of an African sold in to slavery
•Brought up by his mother while his father worked on a British warship
•Lively and bright child despite deformities in his spine and shin bones
Emergence of a radical
Cuffay went on to become an incredibly respected journeyman tailor
However as the 1834 strike of London tailors approached, Cuffay joined the strikers.
Because of his actions, he was fired. It has been argued that this was the experience that led him to the more radical sectors of the Trade Union movement.
Timeline of Cuffay’s career
1839 Cuffay joined the Chartist movement and the Metropolitan Tailors’ Charter Association.
1841Cuffay was elected as a member of the metropolitan delegate council within just two years and soon chaired the ‘Great Public Meeting of the Tailors’ where they adopted a national petition.
1844Cuffay was awarded the position of president and was on the committee opposing magistrates having the power to arrest and sentence workers on their employer’s oath alone.
1846Cuffay became director of both the National-Militia Association and Democratic Committee for Poland’s Regeneration.
What is Chartism?
Chartism existed between 1839 and 1848. It was a working class movement aiming to create a more equal political system. Unsatisfied by the current top heavy organisation, Chartists campaigned for extended suffrage and availability for the lower classes to enter politics.
The Chartist Movement
Physical force Moral forceBelieved they could scare Parliament into change
Discussion will create democracy
Attacks on machinery, farms and property owned by the ruling classes
Leafleting, protests, strikes and speeches
Eg. Feargus O'Connor and John Frost
Eg. William Lovett
The biggest downfall of the Chartist movement was the lack of unified direction.
William Cuffay’s style of Leadership
Especially known for his militant ideas and actions.
Noted for his extravagant expressions.
“The leadership are a bunch of cowardly humbugs!”
Petitioning
Despite this split in leadership and style, one method used by each approach was the use of petitions in order to promote The Charter.
1. Every man over 21 should have the right to vote2. A secret ballot should be introduced3. A person should not have to own property of a certain value to become a
Member of Parliament.4. Members of Parliament should be paid, allowing working men to serve in
Parliament5. All constituencies should be equal in term of population size6. Elections to Parliament should be held every year so that Members of
Parliament have to answer to their voters if they have not performed well.
The downfall
The Chartists’ determination to reach high numbers on their petitions led to forgery of many signatures, including Queen Victoria.
This rendered the Chartist movement a farce and it soon collapsed.
Finpen fefne
Bvjed jvfnifn
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Jsajfpas nisafnas
Queen Victoria
Legacy
Although making a brief recovery after the forged signatures were exposed, the movement was ultimately unsuccessful. Cuffay never recovered from his aggressive outburst.
It did however have a positive legacy as five of the six demands in the Charter were met. The only aim not established was the demand for an annual Parliament.
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People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER0161 838 9190 [email protected] www.phm.org.ukTwitter: @PHMMcr Facebook: PHMMcr