noun
- A 19th-century British political and social movement that sought to extend voting rights and improve working conditions for the working class.
Usage: historical; capitalized; often used with the definite article 'the'
Examples
- Chartism emerged in Britain during the 1830s as a response to industrial hardship and political exclusion.
- The movement's name came from the People's Charter, a document outlining six key demands for democratic reform.
- Chartism advocated for universal male suffrage, secret ballots, and annual parliamentary elections.
- Many working-class families supported Chartism as a way to gain a voice in government.
- The Chartist movement declined after the 1840s but influenced later labor and democratic reforms.
- Historians view Chartism as an important precursor to modern labor movements and democratic expansion.