New life was breathed into the Chartist movement when the National Charter Association (NCA) was founded in Manchester in July 1840 by 23 former delegates to the National Convention. The NCA was to constitute the back-bone of Chartism for the remainder of its lifetime. It was actively supported by Fergus O'Connor, who remained in prison until August 1841.

The aim of the NCA was to provide a formal organisation to co—ordinate the activities of regional Chartist groups known as localities. Each locality had to group its members into classes and wards, collect a regular subscription of 1d per week and have an elected leadership. By April 1842, 401 localities (within a membership of 50,000) were affiliated to the NCA. The organisation was opposed by Lovett and attracted few members from either London or Scotland.

In April 1842, the NCA organised a second convention of Chartists after the one of 1839.