Chartism

This podcast episode features Melvyn Bragg and guests Joan Allen, Emma Griffin, and Robert Saunders discussing the Chartist movement, a 19th-century working-class movement in Britain that advocated for political reforms. The discussion covers the deteriorating living conditions of working people, the impact of industrialization, and the key demands outlined in the People's Charter, including universal male suffrage and equal-sized constituencies. The panel explores the motivations behind the movement, the reactions from Parliament and the elite, the role of mass meetings and media, and the involvement of women and religion. They also examine the legacy of Chartism, noting its influence on later reform movements and its contribution to the development of a skilled working class and a broader understanding of democracy.