National Union of the Working Classes

Historical Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.06: English Writing and Culture of the Romantic Period, 1789-1837.
Vol. editors: Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Daniel Robinson (Widener University)

Domains

Trade Unions

Dates

Date of occurrence 1831-05

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Resources

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During the agitation over the reform bill to redistribute and extend the electoral franchise, the National Union of the Working Classes was established by radical activists William Lovett, Henry Hetherington and James Watson. It popularised the utopian socialist ideas of Robert Owen, and included a Declaration of the Rights of Man in its constitution of 1831. However, its influence was limited by its failure to co-ordinate effectively with rival political unions, including the most powerful, the Birmingham Political Union, and the National Political Union, also set up in 1831.

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87 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "National Union of the Working Classes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4688, accessed 23 April 2024.]

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