The People's Charter is drawn up in Britain

Background. Following the Reform Act 1832, which failed to extend voting rights beyond property owners, working-class leaders perceived a betrayal. The London Working Men's Association, founded in 1836 by William Lovett and Henry Hetherington, initially focused on education. However, in 1838, Lovett and Francis Place drafted a parliamentary bill that served as the foundation for the People's Charter, shifting the Association's focus toward Chartism.

Charter Content. The People's Charter called for six reforms to make the political system more democratic. These demands included annual parliamentary elections to prevent bribery and intimidation, operating under a system of universal manhood suffrage. Although none of these demands were entirely new, the Charter became one of the most famous political manifestos of 19th-century Britain.

Movement Launch. Chartism was launched in 1838 through large-scale meetings in Birmingham, Glasgow, and northern England. A massive gathering occurred on Kersal Moor near Salford in September 1838. Despite differing priorities among local leaders, the Charter and associated publications created a national, largely united campaign of protest, establishing strongholds in industrial areas dependent on single industries.