The people wanted several concessions from their governments; greater social equality, an end to the old, rigid class system, fairer wages, better living conditions and, above all, a voice in the government of the country. In most European countries voting was restricted to a small number of the ruling elite. By the middle of the 19^th century social and industrial unrest was widespread. The year of 1848 is known as the Year of Revolution because violent social unrest was happening in most European countries

The Development of the Chartist Movement in Britain

During the 19^th century British political reform was very slow and a movement grew up which demanded a series of political and electoral changes. These changes were contained in a Charter and the movement became known as Chartism. It became a very popular social movement with large numbers of people marching in support of the proposed changes, often leading to violent confrontations. Leaders of the Chartist movement urged for more equality and social reform They even demonstrated one way in which people’s lives could be improved by creating "model villages".

One such Chartist village was at Snig’s End. It was a planned village of small cottages and farms, each standing on between six to eight hectares of land. The aim was to show that working class people could lead better and healthier lives as market gardeners, working small plots of land which would sustain them and provide a small profit. The lucky owners of the cottages in the village were the winners of a Chartist competition advertised in a newspaper. Although Snig’s End did show that social reform was possible, it did not provide any real solutions since not all workers wanted to become farmers. Most workers just wanted better and fairer conditions.

The Chartist movement culminated in a series of mass rallies across Britain in the early 1830’s and ‘40’s. In South Wales, where the marchers were armed and the local militia, who had been informed, were lying in wait, a riot broke out and many workers were killed or injured. The leaders of the march were rounded up and put on trial. They were sentenced to transportation to Australia where they were to remain for a period of fourteen years. One of the leaders, John Frost, having served his sentence, later returned from Australia and went on to become an important Lord Mayor of Bristol.

By the middle of the 19^th century Chartism as a political force had failed. Social reform did not progress until the end of the century with the rise of Socialism and the Trade Union Movement. Between them social reformers and trade unions had been able to make some progress and working conditions had improved. However, very little progress was made with either electoral change or social equality. Few working class people had the vote or had been able to break free from their social class.

The situation only changed with the onset of the Great War in 1914. For the first time men of all social classes mixed together, enduring the most dreadful conditions. By the end of the war, in 1918, the old social order was fast breaking up. The old world of rigid class structure was to be replaced by much greater and increasing social equality which has gradually made today’s society much more equal.

• Social Development in the Industrial Revolution Homepage
• The Industrial Revolution Homepage
• Top of Page