The Chartists and Birmingham

The Chartist Land plan was the idea of Chartist leader, Feargus O'Connor. It aimed to enfranchise working class people through the distribution of land.

A national petition in support of the six Chartist principles was drawn up in 1839 and presented to the House of Commons.

Following the rejection of the Chartist petition, rioting occurred throughout the country. This included serious riots in Birmingham, known as the Bull Ring Riots.

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.

Further Chartist petitions were compiled and presented to Parliament in 1842 and 1848.

The Chartist movement grew out of disappointment with the 1832 Reform Act, which did little to advance voting rights for the working classes.