The Chartist Legacy
The Chartists ceased to be a significant force for reform by the late 1840s, but despite this, by 1918 all but one of their demands had been achieved.
The Chartists ceased to be a significant force for reform during the 1840s. As part of an attempt to diffuse potential unrest following the rejection of the last great Chartist petition in 1848, many Chartist leaders had been arrested. The movement ceased to be a driving force for reform, but despite this by 1918 all but one of their demands had been achieved.
- Universal manhood suffrage (1918 Representation of the People Act)
- Voting by secret ballot (1872 Ballot Act)
- Payment for MPs (1911 Parliament Act)
- No property qualification for MPs (1858 Property Qualification for Members of Parliament Act)
- Equal electoral districts (1885 Redistribution Act)
- Annual elections to Parliament (not achieved)
