AMERICAN REVOLUTION

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

• American Revolution, also known as American War of Independence, was a colonial

revolt of thirteen American colonies against the oppression of British rule. The
absolute rule of British was so ruthless that it forced American people, the majority of
whom were of British origin, to revolt against their own motherland.
•  America defeated Britain at the end of war and shook the base of colonialism. It was
the first political revolution in the modern world history that inspired various other
revolutions, notably French Revolution.
•  The process of American Revolution (1765-1783) built strong, united and prosperous
America with solid foundation of ideals that other colonial countries followed in the
course of time.
REASONS FOR EUROPEANS SETTLEMENTS IN
AMERICA:
•  Political Reasons: During the reign of Charles 1st, supporters of the Stuart dynasty
met with a defeat. To save themselves from the worst fate they escaped to America.
Similarly, autocratic rule of German rulers impelled German people to settle in the
America.
•  Religious Reasons: To get religious freedom by escaping from the clutches of the
church and religious persecution. For Eg. Puritans established Plymouth colony near
Massachusetts and William Penna and his fellow Quakers established Pennsylvania.
•  Economic reasons: Traders migrated for profit. For example, the founders of
Jamestown colony had come to America in search of gold. Colonies of Virginia and
Georgia developed rapidly due to spread of Tobacco cultivation.
•  Social reasons: Slavery was prevalent in Europe and to escape from it vulnerable
sections migrated to the Americas. Many others emigrated to the Americas or so-called
New World hoping for better quality of life than existed in Europe.
•  Hostile Atmosphere: Such atmosphere was prevalent in Europe due to constant
warfare which created mutual distrust and large-scale massacre. To escape from that
people migrated to the Americas.
STATUS OF AMERICA PRIOR TO REVOLUTION

• Settlement of Colonies:
•  British king James 1st (1606) gave permission to a group of wealthy man to
establish colony and trade within specified region of America. Accordingly, this group
established 1st British colony called ‘Jamestown Colony’ in 1607 at modern day
Virginia.
•  Slowly the land of America gained popularity and by 1775 total of 13 colonies were
established in the Americas, despite being a hostile land and its unfavourable
climatic conditions.
•  American colonies gained multicultural and multireligious aspects which helped
them to develop liberal attitude and break their bonds with Europe, thereby helping in
winning independence.
GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS:
•  The North Colonies: New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Had hilly terrain
and unsustainable for cultivation.
•  The Central Colonies: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Highly industrialised
and producer of sugar and wine.
•  The Southern Colonies: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Fertile
land and hence agriculture predominated other occupations.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS:

•  Colonies enjoyed internal autonomy but owed

allegiance to British Monarch. Presence of France on
Northern Boundary, in present day Canada, too forced
colonialist to depend upon British security.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS:

•  People of different nationalities and religion settled

in different colonies which helped in developing
cosmopolitan culture.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS:

•  Between 1713 to 1763 American products like wood,

leather, tobacco, sugar and copper gained heavy
demand in Europe which made Americans richer.
Important cities like New York, Philadelphia etc had
already been developed and continuous prosperity
for 50 years enhanced status of America in the world.
EDUCATIONAL/ INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

•  American journals like The Gazette, The New York Reporter

became popular in Europe too and their demand increased.
Many new universities like Princeton, Yale, Brown etc had
already been established in Americas prior to revolution
CAUSES OF AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
• Economic Exploitation:
• The Colonists wanted to expand themselves but British wanted to exploit
the colonies and for that purpose enacted certain laws:
•  Navigation law (1651): Made it mandatory for colonies to conduct their
business by means of British, Irish or colonial ships which helped British
shipbuilding industry.
•  Trading Regulations: Some goods such as rice, tobacco, iron, wood,
untanned leather etc can only be exported to Britain. This hampered
profits for Americans as Dutch and Spain were ready to offer more money
than Britain.
•  Industrial Regulations: In 1732, export of both finished and
unfinished hats was banned. In 1750, establishment of iron
factories by the Americans were banned.
• However, all these regulations were never strictly enforced by
Britain. Thus, when they were strictly enforced under the reign
of King George III, opposition by the colonist people was
natural.
DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS
•  Intellectual awareness spread in colonies due to education, journalism and thinkers in
the 17th century America.
•  Benjamin Franklin established ‘Philosophical Centre’ which later on became famous
by the name of ‘American Philosophical Society’.
•  In 1704 the first newspaper in America by the name of ‘Boston News
Letter’ started which was followed by ‘American Mercury’ in 1719 and
‘New York Gazette’ in 1725. Newspaper cultivated spirit of nationality
among the people within a century after the formation of colonies in America.
•  Thomas Paine in his pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ asked people to sever
ties with England to safeguard their own rights. His articles in magazine ‘The
American Crisis’ between 1755-1783 fostered patriotism and rational
outlook. Apart from this the role played by Samuel Adams and James Otis
is also important in awakening the masses.
COMMON GRIEVANCES:
•  Businessmen of the north colonies despised British control over trade
whereas agriculturist of the south were under burden of British
moneylenders. On the other hand, middle class hated the privileges and
luxuries enjoyed by the colonial rulers.
•  Power of British Parliament was another ideological divide as colonists
despised its policies and taxes which they considered unjust and unfair.
SEVEN YEARS WAR (1756-1763)
•  The war was fought between Britain against France in Europe, India and
Central Americas.
•  Americans did not help Britain and instead used war to gain maximum
possible profit. This helped growth in industries of America.
•  However, it was the end of the war that benefited Americans the most.
With defeat of France and capture of northern colony of Quebec by Britain
the threat of France to American colonies was eliminated. This also
meant that America no longer needed British security forces on their
soil.
WHAT WAS THE SEVEN YEARS WAR ?
• The Seven Years' War was a conflict between France and Great Britain that began in
1754 as a dispute over North American land claims in the region around Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. This conflict eventually spread into other parts of world, including
Europe, Africa, and Asia.
NO AFFECTION AMONG AMERICANS TOWARDS
ENGLAND
•  People left England due to religious persecution and thus did not have
sympathies for the British.
•  Criminals were deported to the colonies. Their progeny had no affection towards
the British.
•  Apart from Britain, citizens of other countries too had settled in America. They too
despised British dominance over Americas.
•  Most of America was Puritans whereas most of the England was Anglicans and
hence there was no feeling of belongingness.
• Colonists were brimming with feeling of equality whereas class differences
prevailed in Britain. Despite having the same origins, people of America had
grudges against Britain which helped in spurring the revolt.
STERN POLICIES AGAINST THE COLONIST
•  Greenville’s Policies (British Prime Minister 1763-1765): He observed that there is a
lot of expenditure on colony but without significant returns. Thus, he formulated new
policies for America.
• o Navigation Act to be implemented sternly and smuggling should be prevented.
• o Direct Taxes shall be levied on colonies.
• o With the means of revenue collected a permanent massive army shall be deployed in
America to safeguard the interest of Britain.
HE ALSO PROPOSED FOUR NEW REGULATIONS
• o Sugar Act (1764): It banned import of rum from overseas countries except England.
Taxes were imposed on wine, silk, coffee, and other articles of luxury. It was strictly
enforced which benefitted British sugar dealers. But it led to inflation in colonies which
could not buy these items at cheaper rates from French and Dutch. Thus, this Act invokes
rigorous opposition from the colonists.
• o Currency Act (1764): It intended to ban prevalent bills of exchange and paper
currency of colonies so that only English Currency should be used for business
transactions.
• o Stamp Act (1765): It imposed direct taxes on the colonies and required that many
printed materials be printed on stamp paper which would be produced in Britain. Stamp
tax is to be paid in British currency only. Money so collected was to be used for
maintaining army in the colonies. But colonists opposed it by challenging its need when
French threat had already been eliminated.
• o Quartering Act (1765): Obliged colonist to share small proportion of expenditure
incurred upon the maintenance of British troops deployed in America.
• These policies of Greenville invoked fierce opposition from various quarters of
American society. A conference was convened at New York challenged the basic right
of taxation by the British Government and declared ‘No taxation without
representation’. Opposition fostered unity as the taxation became common enemy of the
Americans. Finally, under the pressure British government repealed the Stamp Act in
1766.
• o Rockingham’s Declaratory Act: Rockingham was the Prime Minister of Britain (1765-
1766). Declaratory Act stated that British Parliament was fully empowered to impose
taxes on Americans. However, this led to a huge wave of opposition in the colonies
and British prestige suffered a blow.
• o Townshend’s Tax Project: Rockingham Government fell soon and new Government
was established by William Pitt with Townshend as Finance Minister. He levied customs
duties on 5 goods i.e., tea, lead, paper, coin metal and paint. All of these items were
imported by America from British. This accentuated opposition in the colonies who
were tired of taxation policies of the British Government
IMMEDIATE CAUSES
•  Lord North’s Tea Policy:
• o Lord North was the Prime Minister (1770-1782) of Britain. Due to custom duties, tea
was stopped being imported by Americans which dealt a huge blow to Eat India
Company which had surplus stocks of tea. To provide relief, Lord North’s government
authorised company to export tea to America without paying taxes.
• o However, this step was strongly opposed by colonists as an attempt to monopolise
tea trade and an opposition ensued.
BOSTON TEA PARTY

• o Lord North’s Tea policy led to widespread discontent among ordinary Americans. To
express their displeasure, few Americans under the guidance of Samuel Adams
disguised as coolies boarded a ship of the East India Company docked at Boston port of
Massachusetts, picked up 340 boxes of tea and threw them to sea.
• o This incident is called the Boston Tea Party (16 December 1773) which became a
landmark in the history of America.
SUPPRESSING LAWS OF LORD NORTH

• King George 3rd and Lord North took this event as a challenge and adopted stern policy
measures to suppress the revolt:
• o Boston port was put under embargo until the damages for the destroyed tea had been
paid. It led to the ruin of Boston port city.
• o Advisors of Massachusetts would be appointed directly by the emperor henceforth,
earlier they were elected by the colonists.
• o Deployment of British troops in any city of Massachusetts was held valid. The local
officers were assigned task for boarding and lodging of British soldiers.
1ST CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE OF THE
CONGRESS

• o The aforementioned provisions were confined to Massachusetts only but other colonies
convened a conference at Philadelphia (5th September 1774) to support
Massachusetts. It was attended by all the colonies except Georgia.
• o Objective of the First Continental Congress was to demand internal autonomy. A
declaration charter was drafted in that regard and as a threat the decision was taken to
boycott the British goods.
BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD (APRIL
1775)

• o British Army learned that the rebels had amassed arsenal near Concord for which
they decided to raid it. Troops of Britain and Patriotic forces clashed first near Concord
and then at Lexington in which British forces narrowly escaped.
• o This incident is usually taken as the beginning of the War of American
Independence.
2ND CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE OF
CONGRESS (1775-1781)
•  o On 10th May 1775, 2nd Continental Congress was convened at Philadelphia under
the presidentship of John Hancock. In this Congress George Washington was
appointed as Commander in Chief of American forces.
• o In this conference it was resolved that the arms would be used to defend the
freedom.
• o The Congress on 4th of July 1776 adopted the famous Declaration of Independence
drafted by Thomas Jefferson and thereafter started to function as Provisional
Government of America.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF THE WAR
• Initial Events:
•  In 1775, British General William Howe defeated American forces in the Battle of Bunker
Hills. Philadelphia was captured by British forces soon after.
•  In October 1777, British General Burgoyne surrendered before American General Gates at
Battle of Saratoga. This event convinced France and Spain joining the war on the side of
America.
•  On February 1778 a compromise was reached between America and France that neither of
them would settle a peace pact with British in individual capacity and war would continue
until colonies achieve independence.
•  In 1778 itself Spain joined war on American side as it wanted Gibraltar, a strategic
gateway between Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, back from Britain.
•  By 1780, Holland too entered war on American side and Russia, Sweden, Denmark
declared their armed neutrality which was against Britain interest.
•  Under this background, at the Battle of Yorktown, combined forces of America and France
under Commander in Chief George Washington, managed to defeat British forces under
Commander in Chief Lord Cornwallis who surrendered on 19th October 1781 at Yorktown.
PARIS PEACE:

•  After the war representatives of King George 3rd and representatives of America, France, Spain
and Holland signed separate treaties at Paris which are collectively called as Peace of Paris with
following provisions:
• o America was recognised as a free, sovereign, and independent state by the Britain.
• o Establishing the boundaries of the United States, including but not limited to those between the
United States and British North America (present day Canada) from the Mississippi River to the
Southern colonies.
• o Prisoner of Wars on both sides are to be released and all the properties of the British army
(including slaves) now in the United States is to remain and stand forfeited to the Independent
America.
•  On the similar lines treaties were signed by Britain with France, Spain and Holland:
• o France obtained St. Lucia and Tobago in the West Indies, Senegal and Gouri in Africa and some
parts of India from England.
• o Spain got Florida and the island of Minorca in the Mediterranean Sea.
• o Britain and Holland maintained pre-war status
WHY BRITAIN FAILED?
•  Logistic Problems: England was more than 3000 km away from America which proved
difficult to send provisions for British army in time. In the background of hostile and vast
territory it proved fatal.
•  Planning: American war efforts were planned and led by very prudent persons. On the
other hand, British war policy undermined the strength of America and were overconfident
of their power.
•  Lack of home support: In Britain as certain Whig leaders like William Pitt, Edmund Burke and
Charles Fox had sympathies for Americans. Traders too did not want a war as it disrupted
their profits.
•  Policies of British Government: They proved pivotal for colonial independence as it provided
them a common enemy in the name of Taxation. Opposition to taxation became a binding
factor for multi religious and multi-cultural American society.
•  Unpopularity of King George 3rd: In his quest to become all powerful ruler he lost
competent and talented advisors. He failed to gauge the strength of America during the
war period which cost war preparation seriously.
•  Able leadership: George Washington on the strength of his inexhaustible courage and
integrity he brought victory to American forces in the end.
• Participation of Spain and France: It proved decisive as it balanced the naval
superiority of the Britain. Britain simply did not have enough manpower and will to fight
combined enemy forces thousands of miles away.
NATURE OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION
•  Democratic Vs Non-Democratic: American Revolution fostered democracy in America.
However, some historians call it non democratic as democracy was already there in
America. For example, 95 % of the population of Massachusetts had franchise.
•  Violent: Arms were taken up to defend the freedom which percolated into heavy
bloodshed during the course of war.
•  Class Division: Freedom was achieved but it reached to certain classes only. The black
and other coloured people were not given equal status with whites post-independence. It
later on became one of the major reasons for the American Civil War (1861-1865).
•  Anti-Imperial: The war of independence started because of imperial policies of
exploitation by Britain. The defeat of British forces was a fatal blow to the imperial
tendencies all over the world.
•  Inspiratory: When France and Spain jumped into war their soldiers participated on
ground level war as well. This band of soldiers who had participated in war effort took
ideals of revolution back home and spread it in their countries. For example, General
Lafayate of French forces later on played an important part in French Revolution.
•  Ideals: The most important aspect of American Revolution was its ideals that signified
the revolution. Ideals such as equality, democracy, constitutionalism, federalism,
fundamental rights among others have been influencing world polity even today
SIGNIFICANCE OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION:
•  Ideals of Democracy: America became the first democratic country in the world and
acted as a torchbearer for generations to come.
•  Equality and Religious Freedom: Within America via various conventions and Acts
passed by legislature. For example, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was
adopted in 1886 to provide for the ideas of Secularism.
•  Education: Through Land Act 1785 large tracts of land were confiscated and provided
for public educational institutions.
•  Industrialisation: The war removed all the hurdles in capitalist economy for America.
Its ports were opened for international trade and industries were promoted. It
contributed in the America becoming a force to be reckoned with in coming decades.
•  Fatal Blow to Absolute Monarchy: The concept of the divine rights of the king
received a death blow. It was the beginning of the end for the era of absolute
monarchy in Europe.
•  Inspiration to Other Revolutions: The war gave push to revolutionary forces in
Spain and France as soldiers who had participated in it took ideals of revolution back
into their countries.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND INDIA
•  War during American Revolution aggravated the rivalry between Britain and France
and British East India Company started to attack the French settlements in India, as
France was supporting the American colonists in this revolution.
•  Second Anglo-Mysore war was also one of the offshoots of this rivalry, in which
Mysore ruler Haider Ali sought assistance of French settlers in India. After the Paris treaty
French decided to withdraw their support to Haider Ali and on the other hand British also
went for peace by treaty of Mangalore in 1784.
•  American Revolution had broken the myth of British Military supremacy and boosted
the confidence of British rivals like Mysore in India. It also motivated the freedom fighters
of India to fight for civil rights and liberties.
•  American Constitution that was constituted after the conclusion of American Revolution
has a deep impact on the Indian constitution. Most of important Fundamental Rights
of constitution has been inspired from it.
POST WAR SYNOPSIS
•  Loyalist Expatriation: Thousands of Loyalists to British Monarch left American colonies.
Britain created the colonies of Upper Canada (Ontario) and New Brunswick for their benefit.
However, nearly 85 % of the population chose to stay in America and adopted its citizenship.
•  Status of American Women:
• o The revolution gave rise to the idea of Republican Motherhood. It centred on the belief that
the patriots’ daughters should be raised to uphold the ideals of republicanism, in order to
pass on republican values to the next generation.
• o Many women contributed to the war efforts through fundraising and running family
businesses in the absence of husbands.
• o Liberal tendencies led to fading away of patriarchy. Young women had freedom to choose
their husbands and society as such cherished their role in family value system.
• o On the negative side despite contributing immensely, women were not given participation in
political field. They were still deprived of right to vote and could not buy property
independently.
STATUS OF SLAVES
• o Post war, various northern states passed new constitutions that contained
provisions about equal rights or specifically abolished slavery. For example, states,
such as New York and New Jersey where slavery was more widespread passed laws by
the end of the 18th century to abolish slavery. Whereas in New York, the last slaves
were freed in 1827.
• o Sothern states did not abolish slavery. However, individual owners could free their
slaves by personal choice. Accordingly numerous slave owners freed their slaves sighting
revolutionary ideals or due to other reasons such as a reward for personal services.
AMERICAN CONSTITUTION
• First Constitution:
•  The 2nd Continental Congress in June 1776 established a committee after American
war with one member from each colony to draft a constitution for the federation.
•  While drafting the Constitution two major groups emerged i.e., Democratic group led
by Thomas Jefferson and Aristocratic group led by Hamilton.
•  Democrats wanted the grant of political power to the masses whereas aristocrats
were opposed to it. Democrats advocated safety of private property but did not want it
to pass into few hands. Aristocrats wanted the government to keep merchants, money
lenders and investors so that trade might expand. Aristocrats wanted a strong central
government which could safeguard the interest of trade and industry but the
democrats were against this and wanted to give minimum power to the centre.
•  The first Constitution came into being in 1781 and used the term ‘United States of
America’ for the first time.
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS

•  Central Representative Government: It established a central government with well-

defined but limited powers. To execute powers of government, a Congress was
established with 2 to 7 representatives from each colony but only 1 vote was given to
each colony. A bill could be passed in Congress only with the majority of 9 out of 13.
•  Foreign Affairs: Congress was fully responsible for conducting foreign affairs. It could
declare war and negotiate peace but couldn't tax and hence suffered financially.
•  Limitations on Power: Congress also lacked the power to organize army for collective
security, inter-state trade or contracting loans etc.
•  Need of Redrafting: The Constitution functioned well during war but after war
differences surfaced and the constitution was flouted on numerous occasions. Hence it
was decided to convene the assembly to redraft the constitution.
FORMATION OF PRESENT CONSTITUTION
(SECOND CONSTITUTION)

• The assembly gathered on 25th May 1787 and on the recommendation of Washington a
process to draft a new Constitution started. Two plans emerged during the course of
debate.
•  Plan A-Virginia Plan:
• o Demanded strong federal government with a bicameral legislature.
• o Lower House shall be elected on the basis of population.
• o Upper House shall be elected by Lower House.
• o Small states opposed this plan due to large states getting more power.
•  Plan B-New Jersey Plan:
• o Small states proposed this alternative plan.
• o Unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.
• o Gave less power to centre and made state governments powerful.
• o It was opposed by large states.
CONCILIATORY PLAN:

• Finally, the delegation from the Connecticut State under Dr Johnson proposed a
conciliatory plan which had substance of all the proposed plans
MAIN FEATURES OF THE US CONSTITUTION
•  Written: The USA Constitution is written Constitution which is made at Philadelphia convention
in 1789. It consists on seven articles.
•  Brief Constitution: The USA Constitution is one of the briefest constitutions over all the world.
It consists on seven articles which are not more than seven thousand words.
•  Rigid Constitution: The American Constitution is the rigid constitution because the process of
amendment in it so complicate as the proposal of 2/3 majority by congress or state and the
ratification must be by the three fourth of majority without only twenty-six amendments in
constitution during two hundred years.
•  Sovereignty of the Peoples: The USA Constitution shows the sovereignty of the people in the
very start write that “We people United States established the constitution for USA.”
•  Federalism: The constitution established the federal form of Government in which the powers
divided between centre and states where there is conflict between centre and state. The central
powers dominate.
•  Separation of Power: The Constitution is based on the doctrine of separation of power. The
three pillars of Government not to interfere in each other matters.
•  Check and Balance In is also the system of check and Balance in it the executive check
judiciary and legislation, judiciary check, legislation and executive, etc.
• Bicameralism: It proposed a bicameral legislature. Lower House was called House of
Representatives which would be elected directly by the people. Upper House would
be called Senate where all states would have equal representation.
•  Executive branch Article Two describes the office of the President of the United
States. The President is head of the executive branch of the federal government, as
well as the nation’s, head of state and head of government. The office of the Vice
President is also established by Article Two. The Vice President and the President
are both elected to serve an identical four- year term.
•  Dual Citizenship: The American constitution give every citizen is dual domicile as
the citizenship of American and state.
•  Independence of Judiciary n it the judiciary is independent and not work under any
authority.
•  Bill of Rights: The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments
to the United States Constitution. These amendments guarantee a number of
personal freedoms, limit the government’s power in judicial and other proceedings,
and reserve some powers to the states and the public.
FEDERALISTS AND ANTI-FEDERALISTS:

•  During the course of the debate, the conference got divided into Federalist and Anti
Federalist. However chief principles of the constitution were determined by July 26 1787 and
a committee under Governor Mupis to draft the Constitution on those principles.
•  Conference gave Federal government the right to taxation, to contract loans, to impose
uniform octroi and excise duty, to issue currency, to regulate army and have inter-state
trade as well as to admit new states in the federation.
•  Consent to this constitution was granted on 17th September 1787 and 39
representatives out of 55 put their signature on it. With this event the conference came to an
end.
•  It was stated in the constitution itself that it would come into force only when it was ratified
by 9 out of the 13 states. This required number of ratifications by 9 states was achieved on
2nd July 1788 and Constitution came into force immediately.
•  Within a year a bicameral legislature was set up and George Washington assumed
office on 30th April 1789 thereby becoming the first President of the United States of
America.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

• American Civil War was a four-year war (1861–65) between the Union
states (states loyal to federal union) and 11 Southern states that
seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America.
The central cause of the war was the status of slavery, especially the
expansion of slavery into territories acquired as a result of the Louisiana
Purchase (1805) and the Mexican–American War (1845).
ECONOMIC SITUATION IN NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN STATES:
• Northern States
•  Northern states were Industrialised, prosperous, followed capitalism and had access
to vast natural resources (New York, New Jersey, Michigan etc). There were 1200
cotton mills. Business, banking and shipping sectors, canals and railroads developed.
Universities of Harvard and Yale began to attract large number of students.
•  These states received large number of immigrants from Europe who were liberal
and had progressive outlook. Demanded strong tariff policy to protect industry from
European competition.
•  They wished to abolish slavery out of humanitarian concerns and feared that newly
acquired western territories would also come under slavery.
SOUTHERN STATES
•  These states were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
•  These states were economically backward and ideas of feudalism dominated.
Agricultural economy was dominated by plantation crops such as cotton, tobacco.
They opposed increase of tariff duty as they imported their agriculture tools from
Europe.
•  Employed large number of slaves on farms. Slaves were mostly brought from West
Africa. They had no right and could not become free and were subjected to torture.
Southern States were against the abolition of slavery and considered any such
move to be harmful to their economy and as evil designs of northern territory.
VIEW OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STATES
OVER SLAVERY
• Northern States:
•  Northern condemned slavery as it was against their conscience. They took recourse
to fact that even colonial powers such as Britain had outlawed slavery in 1833.
•  Numbers of anti-slavery societies were formed in cities. For e.g New England Anti-
Slavery Society (1832) and American Anti-Slavery Society (1833).
•  William Garrison started an anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator. Uncle Tom’s
Cabin a novel by Ms. Stowe reflected the miserable condition of slaves in Southern
States.
•  Northern were afraid that slavery would spread to newly conquered territories
SOUTHERN STATES
•  There were 4.5 million slaves in Southern states which viewed slavery as a
source of sustenance and believed that without plantation workers their
economy would be doomed.
•  The Fugitive Slave Act (1850) which forced the northern states to arrest
the escaped slaves and hand back to the owners was enacted under
pressure of South.
•  They blamed Northern States for encouraging revolt of the states
EVENTS/CAUSES LEADING UP TO CIVIL WAR
• Missouri Compromise (1820):
•  The Missouri Compromise was a United States federal legislation that stopped
northern attempts to forever prohibit slavery's expansion by admitting Missouri as a
slave state and Maine as a free state in exchange for legislation which prohibited slavery
in the remaining Louisiana Purchase lands north of the 36°30′ parallel.
•  Missouri applied as a slave state. The admission of Missouri would upset the balance of
power in the Senate where at the time there were 11 free states and 11 slave states.
•  The compromise thawed sectional differences for a short time but showed how volatile
issue of slavery is.
•  Three years later the Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court in the Dred Scott decision (1857), which ruled that Congress did not
have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories.
•  In 1854, the Missouri Compromise was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT (1850)
•  It required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that
officials and citizens of Free states had to cooperate. It also denied a fugitive's right to
a jury trial. People who helped slaves escape would be jailed and fined.
•  Effect:
• o The Act was one of the most controversial elements of the 1850 compromise and
heightened Northern fears of a "slave power conspiracy".
• o For slaves attempting to build lives in the North, the new law was disaster. Many left
their homes and fled to Canada.
• o Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act made abolitionists all the more resolved to put an
end to slavery.
•  The act also brought the subject of slavery before the nation. Many who had
previously been ambivalent about slavery now took a definitive stance against it.
RIGHTS OF THE STATE
•  The South argued that just as each state had decided to join the
Union, a state had the right to secede—leave the Union—at any time.
Northerners (including pro-slavery President Buchanan) rejected that notion
as opposed to the will of the Founding Fathers, who said they were setting
up a perpetual union.
•  Before the Civil War, the Southern states used federal powers in enforcing
and extending slavery at the national level, with the Fugitive Slave Act of
1850 and Dred Scott v. Sandford decision. Because of the
overrepresentation of pro-slavery factions in the federal government,
many Northerners, even non-abolitionists, feared the Slave Power
conspiracy.
SECTIONALISM
•  Sectionalism resulted from the different economies, social structure,
customs, and political values of the North and South. Sectionalism
increased steadily between 1800 and 1860 as the North, which phased
slavery out of existence, industrialized, urbanized, and built prosperous
farms, while the deep South concentrated on plantation agriculture based on
slave labor, together with subsistence agriculture for poor whites.
•  In the 1840s and 1850s, the issue of accepting slavery split the nation's
largest religious denominations (the Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian
churches) into separate Northern and Southern denominations.
PROTECTIONISM
•  Owners of slaves preferred low-cost manual labour with no mechanization.
Northern manufacturing interests supported tariffs and protectionism while
Southern planters demanded free trade.
•  The Democrats in Congress, controlled by Southerners, wrote the tariff laws in the
1830s, 1840s, and 1850s, and kept reducing rates so that the 1857 rates were the
lowest since 1816. The Republicans called for an increase in tariffs in the 1860
election. The increases were only enacted in 1861 after Southerners resigned their
seats in Congress
NATIONALISM
•  Nationalism was a powerful force in the early 19th century, with famous
spokesmen such as Andrew Jackson and Daniel Webster. While
practically all Northerners supported the Union, Southerners were split
between those loyal to the entirety of the United States (called "Southern
Unionists") and those loyal primarily to the Southern region and then the
Confederacy.
•  While the South moved towards a Southern nationalism, leaders in the
North were also becoming more nationally minded, and they rejected any
notion of splitting the Union. The Republican national electoral platform of
1860 warned that Republicans regarded disunion as treason and would
not tolerate it.
LINCOLN'S ELECTION
•  The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 was the final trigger for
secession. Southern leaders feared that Lincoln would stop the expansion of slavery
and put it on a course toward extinction.
•  When Lincoln won the presidential election in 1860, the South lost any hope of
compromise. Jefferson Davis claimed that all the cotton states would secede from
the Union the Confederacy was formed of seven states of the Deep South:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas in
January and February 1861. They wrote the Confederate Constitution, which
provided greater states' rights than the Constitution of the United States. Until
elections were held, Davis was their provisional president.
• Meanwhile Lincoln was elected on March 4, 1861 and declared that the
American people had shown that they had been successful in establishing
and administering a republic, but a third challenge faced the nation:
maintaining a republic based on the people's vote, in the face of an attempt
to destroy it.
COURSE OF THE CIVIL WAR
• The war broke when southern states attacked Fort Sumter. The fall of fort led
Lincoln to declare war against south. Lincoln declared a state of emergency
and suspended all civil liberties enjoyed by citizens. He raised a force of
30,000 troops and ordered them to march to Richmond, Virginia which was
the capital of Confederates. The Union troops were however defeated.
MAJOR ASPECTS OF WAR
• Union Blockade:
•  In April 1861, Lincoln announced the Union blockade of all Southern ports;
commercial ships could not get insurance and regular traffic ended. The South
blundered in embargoing cotton exports in 1861 before the blockade was effective;
by the time they realized the mistake, it was too late. "King Cotton" was dead, as
the South could export less than 10 percent of its cotton. The blockade shut
down the ten Confederate seaports with railheads that moved almost all the cotton,
especially New Orleans, Mobile, and Charleston.
•  Historian Surdam argues that the blockade was a powerful weapon that eventually
ruined the Southern economy, at the cost of few lives in combat. Practically, the
entire Confederate cotton crop was useless (although it was sold to Union traders),
costing the Confederacy its main source of income. Critical imports were scarce and
the coastal trade was largely ended as well.
DIPLOMACY
•  Although the Confederacy hoped that Britain and France would join them against
the Union, this was never likely, and so they instead tried to bring the British and French
governments in as mediators.
•  The Union, under Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward, worked to block
this and threatened war if any country officially recognized the existence of the
Confederate States of America.
•  In 1861, Southerners voluntarily embargoed cotton shipments, hoping to start an
economic depression in Europe that would force Britain to enter the war to get cotton,
but this did not work. Worse, Europe turned to Egypt and India for cotton, which they
found superior, hindering the South's recovery after the war.
•  Cotton diplomacy proved a failure as Europe had a surplus of cotton, while the 1860–62
crop failures in Europe made the North's grain exports of critical importance. It also
helped to turn European opinion further away from the Confederacy. It was said that
"King Corn was more powerful than King Cotton", as U.S. grain went from a quarter
of the British import trade to almost half. Meanwhile, the war created employment for
arms makers, ironworkers, and ships to transport weapons.
END OF WAR
•  One last Confederate attempt to break the Union hold on Petersburg failed
at the decisive Battle of Five Forks (sometimes called "the Waterloo of
the Confederacy") on April 1. This meant that the Union now controlled the
entire perimeter surrounding Richmond-Petersburg, completely cutting it off
from the Confederacy. Realizing that the capital was now lost, Lee decided
to evacuate his army. The Confederate capital fell to the Union XXV Corps,
composed of black troops. The remaining Confederate units fled west after a
defeat at Sayler's Creek.
•  Initially, Lee did not intend to surrender but planned to regroup at the village
of Appomattox Court House, where supplies were to be waiting and then
continue the war. Grant chased Lee and got in front of him so that when
Lee's army reached Appomattox Court House, they were surrounded.
After an initial battle, Lee decided that the fight was now hopeless, and
surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865.
•  On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a
Confederate sympathizer. Lincoln died early the next morning.
• On April 26, 1865, the same day Boston Corbett killed Booth at a tobacco
barn, General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered nearly 90,000 men of the
Army of Tennessee to Major General William Tecumseh Sherman at
Bennett Place near present-day Durham, North Carolina. It proved to be the
largest surrender of Confederate forces.
• On May 4, all remaining Confederate forces in Alabama and Mississippi
surrendered. President Johnson officially declared an end to the
insurrection on May 9, 1865; Confederate president, Jefferson Davis,
was captured the following day.
REASONS FOR SOUTH'S DEFEAT?
•  North had a population of 23 million which was wealthy compared to poor Southern
states which had only 9 million population.
•  The North enjoyed better communication system, railroad and weapons. The
industrial development gave an edge over backward south.
•  Britain remained neutral during the war. South expected Britain to intervene as it
was a major importer of cotton from south. Britain hailed the emancipation
proclamation by Lincoln. The relationship between Britain and North eased. Britain
imported sufficient quantity of cotton from India and wheat from Northern States.
•  The Northern generals adopted better strategy and had better navy through
which it imposed naval blockade which prevented flow of arms and ammunition to
southern states.
ROLE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

• Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was born in a poor family in Kentucky and did not have any formal
education. He showed keen interest in studies and passed bar examination and started
practising as a lawyer in 1836. He impressed people with his "shrewdness, common
sense and honesty". He earned the nickname "Honest Abe". He became a member of
House of Representatives and joined Republican Party in 1856. He stood for Presidential
election, defeated Stephen Douglas (ardent supporter of slavery) and became the 16th
President of USA.
ROLE IN SLAVERY ABOLITION
•  He argued that slavery was morally wrong and opposed its extension into new
territories.
•  He stated that important priority for him was American union which was formed by the
sacrifice of ancestors. This created an emotional wave.
•  He took military action against south. He took help of volunteers for propagating the
cause of American union.
•  He succeeded in moving the 13th amendment in 1865. By this amendment slavery
was abolished in America. He showed exemplary leadership and maturity in handling
internal crisis.
•  After the civil war he planned the reconstruction of south.
•  He was assassinated on 14 April, 1865.
• During American Civil War, abolitionists in the North United States had long been urging
President Lincoln to free all slaves. In 1862, Republican editor Greeley of the highly
influential New York Tribune wrote a famous editorial entitled “The Prayer of Twenty
Millions” demanding a more aggressive attack on the Southern Confederacy and faster
emancipation of the slaves. Lincoln responded in his letter to Horace Greeley by
writing: “If I could save the Union without freeing-any slave, I would do it; and if I
could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing
some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.”
REASONS BEHIND THE STATEMENT MADE BY
LINCOLN
•  Heterogenous structure of American society: Most of the American citizens were
immigrants from foreign lands and made America their hometown. It was important to
keep their integrity on such critical issue.
•  Lincoln’s constitutional responsibilities: Lincoln considered his duty as the President
was to save the Union first and abolition of slavery as a secondary matter. He consistently
made preserving the Union the central goal of the war, though he increasingly saw
slavery as a crucial issue.
•  Northern vs southern states ideology: Most of the Southerners saw themselves as
fighting in the Civil War to preserve slavery. To Northerners, in contrast, the motivation
was primarily to preserve the Union, not to abolish slavery.
•  Political factions view: There were several factions (such as Northern
Democrats) in Northern United States who were against civil war, wanted the
union to be united but also opposed abolition of slavery. Though Republicans
were dead against slavery, their priority was also to save the union first.
•  European revolutions and worldwide changes: Effects of revolutions such
as 1848 revolutions across Europe and ideas of nationalism in states such as
Italy, Germany could affect American people and may lead to secessionist wars
in Southern states.
•  Different economic structure of north and south states: Owners of slaves
preferred low-cost manual labour with no mechanization. Northern
manufacturing interests supported tariffs and protectionism while Southern
planters demanded free trade. Both have their own justifications for carrying
their job.
•  Deliberations: Instead of going to violent steps to curb slavery, Lincoln was
trying to make solve the matter by persuasion and discussions. Lincoln’s
statement was aimed at maintaining balance between these different factions in
the Northern United States, so that confederacy could be defeated.
SIGNIFICANCE OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR:
•  End of slavery: The war brought that institution of slavery to an abrupt end. In 1860,
there were nearly four million slaves in the U.S., most of those in the South. By the end
of 1865, there were no slaves in the U.S which was a revolutionary change in society.
•  Reconstruction Amendments: Amendments 13, 14 and 15 of the U.S. Constitution
contained the provisions for legal and political status of African-Americans.
Amendment 13 abolished "slavery and involuntary servitude." The 14th Amendment
guaranteed citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized" in the United States, including
African-Americans. It declared every state must provide equal protection to all people
within its jurisdiction. The 15th Amendment gave all male citizens the right to vote
regardless of race, colour or previous conditions of servitude.
•  Strengthening of Union: The Civil War allowed the country to band together once
again and strengthened the people as a whole. While many people simplify the Civil War
and claim that it was about whether or not slavery should be allowed in the U.S., the war
was really about whether or not the states had the right to secede and how far state rights
extended. The Civil War helped to settle the issue of what powers belonged to the states
and what powers belonged to the federal government. Reaching an agreement on this
power delegation helped to create a more powerful and united country. The union was
strengthened in subsequent decades and emerged as a world power.
• Medical Advances: In June 1861, The U.S. Sanitary Commission was created to
help reduce disease in field hospitals. The Commission stressed the importance of
well-ventilated hospital tents, clean water and good food. In many ways the Civil War
set the stage for modern medicine, providing thousands of poorly schooled
physicians with a vast training ground.
•  Technological Advancements: Civil War is called the "first modern war" because
of the new military technology in which it was fought. It was the first to use more rifles
than smoothbore muskets, which increased reloading speed, range, and accuracy.
The "minie ball" bullet, which was developed with these rifles in mind, made the rifles
even deadlier. As a result, the full-on frontal assaults common in war until then were
more likely to fail. Generals had to rethink how they could assault or protect a
position, which led to concepts like trench warfare.
•  Impact on women: Women during the Civil War were provided opportunities to have
more responsibilities, a greater sense of patriotic duty, and a stronger leadership role in
the family and in the public domain. For example- Nearly 20,000 women worked more
directly for the Union war effort. Working-class white women and free and enslaved
African-American women worked as laundresses, cooks and "matrons," and some 3,000
middle-class white women worked as nurses. The war forced women to re-evaluate their
place in society and made them realize that they cannot always rely on their husbands to
always be around and that they need to become more independent in various aspects.
This transformation brought on by the Civil War would shape the role of women forever.
•  Industrial development and America as a World Power: The period of fifty years
which followed the Civil War was one of expansion and rapid growth of material
prosperity. After unification, under the stimulus of the great domestic market unrivalled in
size, the USA by early nineties became the largest manufacturing country of the world.
The interests that had been fostered by the war, demanded at its termination adequate
protection against foreign competition. This led to the revival of high tariff and further
industrial development. Within a few decades of the Civil War, an American nation
consolidated by Union victory stepped onto the world stage.
 ORIGIN OF MODERN POLITICS

• British Democratic politics

• Background of Britain:
•  King Henry I (1100-1135) constituted an assembly comprising of prominent nobles and
churchman which is considered to be a precursor to the parliament.
•  In 1215 King John accepted Charter of demands made by nobles which is called as
“Magna Carta”, and taken as beginning of the parliamentary form of government.
•  In 1265, a session of Magnum Concilium (Great Council) established
during “Norman Period” was called. It was attended by representatives of
nobles, government officials and priests. Hence a system of inviting people’s
representatives developed.
•  Parliament of the period during King Edward (1327) is called as a modern
parliament. Two groups i.e., elitist and commoners were formed. These
groups sat in different houses for discussion. First house was called House
of Lords and other was called House of Commons. Thus, a bicameral
legislature came into being.
•  The period of Tudors and Stuart dynasty i.e., from the end of 16th century to the
middle of 17th century was the period of struggle between monarchy and
parliament.
•  James I of the Stuart dynasty treated parliament with distrust and during time of
financial crisis issued ordinances without consulting parliament. Parliament
didn’t allow it to pass and the question arouse, “who owns the national exchequer.
The king or the parliament?”
•  James I was succeeded by Charles I who suspended parliament and ruled as a
dictator for 11 years (1629-1640).
•  Long Parliament (1640-1660): It was carried out for 20 years and shook the
foundations of monarchy and made it obligatory to call the session of parliament
for a certain period. In 1649 during long parliament, King Charles I was arrested and
executed.
•  Glorious Revolution (1688): People revolted against James II and handed over
the throne to his daughter Mary and her husband, King William of Holland.
•  They both had to take an oath to safeguard the “Proclamation of Rights” which
was amended as the Bill of Rights (1689). It established highest authority of
administration as Parliament and not the king.
•  William felt obliged to parliament as it handed over the throne to him. He selected
his ministers from amongst the Whigs who enjoyed majority in parliament and made
them responsible for the administration. The Cabinet system came into being.
• Parliamentary Reforms:
•  Absolute monarchy finished but the parliament was still dominated by the rotten
boroughs and affluent class.
•  Constituencies were irrational and absurd. Each village had a right to send two
representatives for the house of commons.
•  Mushrooming cities had no right to elect a representative.
•  Disparity in voter qualification, for instance at some places independent landlords has
the right to vote and at others rich businessman and industrialists were deprived of right
of voting.
•  The voters didn’t enjoy the freedom of voting. No secret ballots and votes were cast
openly. Landlords often threatened voters to vote for them.
• Industrial revolution created new classes-industrialist and workers.
Industrialists were rich but had no representation in the parliament. Artisans
and labourers also wanted to send their representatives to the parliament.
•  Franchise was very limited before 1832. Only 30000 people out of 14
million were eligible to cast their votes.
•
REFORMATION ACT 1832:
•  The Reform Act of 1832 was inevitable. The rapid industrialization in Britain had led to
urbanisation with new social order dominated by the middle class and working class
in place of clergy and landlords. But they had much lesser political power.
•  The new towns had no right to send any member to the Parliament while some
depopulated places were represented.
•  Elections were controlled by the landlords and franchise was limited. This led to
demand for the Parliamentary reform from the middle class and working class
•  The Reform Act of 1832 granted seats in the House of Commons to cities that had
sprung up during the Industrial Revolution and removed seats from the Rotten Boroughs-
those with very small electorates and usually dominated by a wealthy patron. The act
apart from creating new seats in England and Wales, also was instrumental in extension
of the franchise to vote.
CRITICISM OF THE REFORM ACT 1822
•  The Reform Act cruelly disappointed the hopes of the working classes. They were not
franchised since voters were required to possess property worth £10. This spilt the
alliance between the working class and the middle class, giving rise to the Chartist
Movement by the working class.
•  The Act did not satisfy the Philosophical Liberals. It abolished some of the abuses,
but it left innumerable anomalies, it broke the principle of aristocracy without admitting
that of democracy where representation should have been based neither on numbers, nor
wealth, nor education. No effort was made to secure representation for minorities.
•  The Act did not have provisions for the franchise and representation for women.
•  Although the Act did disenfranchise rotten boroughs, a few remained. Also, bribery of
voters remained a problem. Tenants typically voted as instructed by their landlords.
•  The subsequent history of Parliament shows that the influence of the House of Lords
was largely undiminished. The House of Lords compelled the House of Commons to
accept significant amendments to the Municipal Reform Bill in 1835, and successfully
resisted several other bills supported by the public.
IMPORTANCE OF THE REFORM ACT

•  Many MPs believed that parliamentary reforms curbed the chances of violent revolution
would sweep away all established institutions, create chaos and bloodshed, such as the
French had experienced forty years earlier during French Revolution would befall Britain. It
removed the immediate threat to the security of the state
•  The Act of 1832 was the first parliamentary reform which effectively transferred
sovereignty from the aristocracy to the middle class. It weakened the influence of the
House of Lords and raised the status of the House of Commons
•  The Reform Act deserves to be remembered as one of the most momentous pieces of
legislation in the history of modern Britain it was the first thorough going attempt to redraw the
political map and define which categories of persons should, and which should not have the
vote
•  Looked at from a modern perspective, 1832 can be seen as the vital first step on the road
to full representative parliamentary democracy. Extending the vote to adult male
householders in 1867 produced working-class majorities in many urban constituencies thereafter
third Reform Act of 1884 produced a similarly modest male franchise threshold in rural areas,
giving the vote to humble miners and many agricultural labourers.
• The complement to extended voting rights was legislation to make elections
fairer and less corrupt. Votes were cast in secret after 1872. After 1885
parliamentary constituencies were to be of roughly equal size, and after
1948 every voter was restricted to single vote in a single constituency.
•  The passing of the Reform Act marked the real beginning of modern party
organisation in England in a real sense, the present political system of
England dates from 1832
•
HISTORIOGRAPHY
• As per Eric Evans, “The Reform Act of 1832 opened a door on a new political world".
•  There were Whigs and Tones were members of two opposing political parties or factions
in England Tories in 1830s were in favour of Anglican church and strong monarchy, while
Whigs were in favour of non-Anglicans, wealthy middle class industrial and mercantile
interest.
•  Whigs brought 1832 Reform Act and was supportive of Parliaments power to govern.
They also abolished slavery Whigs, Peelites and Radicals formed Liberal Party in 1859
•  The Reform Act encouraged more elaborate and systematic Party organisation both in
the constituencies and at the centre.
•  Reformed Parliament was more liberal, progressive, vigorous, active, susceptible to
public opinion.
•  Local level: First time, registers of voters had to be drawn up. The parties set up
registration committees to register their supporters as many as possible. These formed the
basis for local party organisation.
•  Central level: Establishment of Tony Carlton club and Whig Reform Chub marking
beginnings of central party organisations. At national level, parties became more
responsive to the needs of new electorate.
FREE TRADERS
• The traders who believed in the policy of laissez-faire were called free
traders.
•  Adam Smith the founder of laissez faire criticized mercantilism and
argued that when price is determined according to free competition, factors
of production get automatically distributed between various economic
activities.
•  Ricardo, Bentham, James Mill, John Stuart Mill developed and popularised
Adam Smith’s principle.
REASONS AND IMPACTS
•  Laissez faire and Liberalist policies: As per liberalists the fundamental
function of the government is to safeguard the natural right to individual
property. However, their claim to equality was limited to politics alone as
they considered economic disparity inevitable.
•  Increase in trade after the American colonies became independent.
Bourgeoise class developed in number and after Reformation Act 1832 has
political influence too.
•  Establishment of Manchester chamber of Commerce: It forced
government to abolish monopoly of the trading companies. The
monopoly of Royal African company was abolished in 1821 and that of
East India company in 1833.
•  Britain moved towards rapid economic decline after the Battle of
Waterloo in 1815. To promote economy, policy of free trade was adopted.
Taxes were either reduced or abolished.
•  Contribution of Parliamentarians like Richard Cobden (1804-65) and
John Bright (1811-1889), even though they were industrialists, they thought
from consumer’s point of view and moulded opinion on public in favour of
free trade.
•  Policy of free trade proved very beneficial. British got raw material and
food grains at cheaper price and dumped the world market with her
manufactured goods.
•  With the growth of national wealth, the standard of living of all classes of
people rose higher.
• However, the policy of free trade couldn’t last long. After 1870 due to
failure of crops and evils of free trade. Agriculturalist class began to ask
for state protection. To support them industrial class came forward as they
too wanted protection against foreign goods in their domestic market. Hence
towards end of 19th century world again moved inwards and various duties
were levied to protect domestic industry
THE CHARTIST MOVEMENT (1836-1850S)

• The Chartist movement was the first mass movement

driven by the working classes which aimed at bringing
about a radical change in the condition of the labour
class. The leaders of this movement put up their
demands before the parliament in the form of a charter,
hence the movement was named Chartist movement.
CAUSE OF CHARTIST MOVEMENT
•  Industrialization: The process of industrialization resulted in some issues
such as lower wages of workers and deteriorating working conditions.
•  Expanding Socialism: Socialists drew attention to the fact that the rich
were growing richer and poor becoming poorer. Hence it propagated class
war and aroused public opinion in favour of workers.
•  Reformation Act 1832: Following the failure of the 1832 Reform Act to
extend the vote beyond those owning property, the workers were deprived of
franchise and other political rights. They learnt lesson from the middle class
which has collectively bargained for the acceptance of their demand.
• The Peoples Charter of 1838 called for six reforms to make the
political system more democratic:
•  A vote for every man twenty-one years of age
•  The Secret Ballot- To protect the elector in the exercise
•  No Property Qualification for Members of Parliament of his
vote.
•  Salary to Members, thus enabling an honest trades-man,
working man, or another person, to serve a constituency
•  Equal Constituencies
•  Annual Parliament Elections
CAUSES OF ITS FAILURE
•  Lack of Firm leadership: The leaders quarrelled among themselves and
couldn’t articulate their demands amongst public. For instance, Chartist
leader O'Connor's egotism reflected one of the primary reasons for its
failure.
•  Factionalism: The Chartists were divided in factions and used conflicting
means. There was too much diversity in the intellectual and ideological
aims of Chartism. The main problem was how to achieve a revolutionary
goal by constitutional means. It failed to obtain parliamentary support for
the Charter.
•  Chartist demands seemed too drastic and strange to the British people
and hence lacked popular backing of British people. The middle-classes
either ignored, shunned or condemned Chartism due to violent protests.
Use of violence forced the Government to take suppress the movement.
•  Forged signatures used by them in signature campaign undermined their
credibility. Also, the socio-economic position improved after 1842. Hence
mass support further weakened.
•  They mistook the public discontent as political whereas it was socio-
economic. Peel in 1845 understood this and introduced reforms
accordingly.
• The Chartists obtained one and a quarter million signatures and presented
the Charter to the House of Commons in 1839, where it was rejected by a
vote of 235 to 45. Many of the leaders of the movement, having threatened
to call a general strike. were arrested. When demonstrators marched on the
prison at Newport. Monmouthshire, demanding the release of their leaders,
troops opened fire killing 24 and wounding 40 more. A second petition with 3
million signatures was rejected in 1842, the rejection of the third petition in
1848 brought an end to the movement.
SIGNIFICANCE OF CHARTIST MOVEMENT
•  Boost to Labour Class: Though Chartist movement failed. It left its impact on the
contemporary society. It was first organized labour movement and infused among the
workers a spirit of cooperation and unity. It spread awareness among people about the
conditions of working class and later working-class movements took inspirations
from it.
• It changed attitude if Tories. Under Disraeli, Tories became liberal and all demands of
chartists were accepted gradually except annual election to the parliament.
•  The Representation of the People Act 1918 widened suffrage by abolishing practically
all property qualifications for men and by enfranchising women over 30 who met
minimum property qualifications. Thus, Chartism presented a prospect of the forthcoming
British democracy.
• .
•  Secret Ballot was brought by Ballot Act in 1872. After skilled men won the
right to vote concerns were raised that they would be susceptible to undue
pressure from employers and landlords which led to the passing of the Ballot
Act, 1872.
•  Property Qualification for Members of Parliament Act 1858 repealed the
requirement for an MP to own property.
•  Important Legislations: Passing of the Factory Act, Mines Act and the
Public Health Act as well as abolition of the Corn Act were indirectly
inspired by the Chartist movement. Chartism improved the condition of
workers