Who Were The Rank And File Of The Chartist Movement?

Chartism was a radical movement in the 19th century aimed at enfranchisement. Support for the movement came from across the United Kingdom. Members were principally from the working class but there were some middle class members in the early years. Membership depended on the situation at local levels.

The rank and file came from three dimensions: geographical, occupational and gender. In short, they were those involved in the movement who did not usually appear in official historical reports individually. They were not the main leaders, nor the regional leaders, nor the local leaders or stalwarts. Like any mass movement, the rank and file were the loyal, hard-core enthusiasts who were in the small minority). Many Chartists were "drifters" who went to meetings with the ebb and flow of popular enthusiasm but who wondered away in 1845 and 1850 after being eager to sign petitions and read the radical newspapers. These remained Chartists in feeling but not in action.