How did the authorities respond to Chartism?
Whenever Chartism began to look dangerous – in 1838, 1842 and 1848 – prominent local and national Chartists were arrested in an attempt to render the movement leaderless. Although some escaped gaol (notably Feargus O’Connor and 58 other Chartist leaders and trade unionists tried in Lancaster after the 1842 general strike), others were imprisoned under harsh conditions. Some died in prison because of the conditions. Others were transported to Australia – in some cases for life. Although several Chartists were sentenced to death, in no case was the sentence carried out.
