In 1836, a cabinet maker named William Lovett formed the London Working Men’s Association to campaign for the working people of the UK. The Association was formed as a response to the Great Reform Act of 1832.
The act had granted seats to cities which had sprung up as a result of the Industrial Revolution and increased the electorate from about 400,000 to 650,000.
While more people received the right to vote, there was still a large portion of the population that were unable to have their say. Many working class families were still unable to vote despite the reform.
An amendment to the Poor Law in 1834 exacerbated the feeling of betrayal in the working class. The amendment deprived working people of payments, known as outdoor relief, which drove the poor into workhouses, where conditions were horrendous. Many families were separated as a result of these changes.
It was against this backdrop that the association was formed with the intention of furthering the rights of working people to be able to participate in politics.
In 1838, Lovett set out his aims in a document called the People’s Charter. They listed six aims which they hoped would give working men a say in the running of the country:
- A vote for every man over 21 years of age.
