The "People's Charter," drafted in 1838 by William Lovett and Francis Place was at the heart of a radical campaign for parliamentary reform of the inequity remaining after the Reform Act of 1832. The charter contained six points that were to be presented to parliament, these where:

1. Universal Suffrage
2. No Property qualifications
3. Annual Parliaments
4. Equal representation (constituencies of equal size)
5. Payment of members
6. Vote by ballot

Two national petitions incorporating the six points above were presented to parliament in May 1839 and May 1842, the first signed by 1.3 million people and the second signed by 3.3 million. The six points drawn up were not new revolutionary demands, they had been on the political agenda for at least half a century and this movement was seen by the working class as the right way to bring about change.

During the years 1815-1820 after wars with France there was increasing poverty in England. This coupled...