The failure of Chartism can be largely attributed to the failure of chartist leaders to distinguish a clear plan of action combining the use of moral and physical force. Delegates were unable to agree on what action should be taken and as they discussed the possibilities, the movement was splitting into two factions. Moral force chartists favoured acts of civil disobedience, but this alone wasn`t radical enough to succeed in attracting the attention of those in power. However, the reluctance of the leaders advocating physical force and chartist supporters to “take to the streets” meant that physical force alone wasn`t actually going to materialise, unless this hollow action was backed by economic depression to provoke radical action.

Many working class people were disappointed that the 1832 Reform Act only extended the vote to include the property owning middle class; this disappointment turned to anger when the Whig government passed the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act. In June 1836, William Lovett, Henry Hetherington, John Cleave and James Watson formed the London Working Men`s Association (LWMA). Although it

only ever had a few hundred members, it became a very influential organisation. In 1838 the leaders of LWMA drew up a Charter of political demands, and Lovett was chosen to lead the movement the following year.

Despite Lovetts dedication to the cause, his weaknesses of character and the limited support for the LWMA in other areas hindered his moral force argument. He lacked the ability to command affection and devotion to the Charter at mass meetings, a skill which naturally graced Feargus O`Connor, his rival in the movement. The LWMA`s tours in the north were relatively unsuccessful, due to the profound difference in background between the Londoners and northerners, whose situation was worsened by the Poor Law Amendment Act. They were also affected by cyclical periods of unemployment. Economic instability was more often found in the north, where oppressed workers such as the handloom weavers were prepared to use physical force and therefore agreed with the potentially more radical ideas of O`Connor.

The four main leaders of the Chartist movement had previously been involved in political campaigns and had all experienced periods of imprisonment. However, they were all opposed to using violence to achieve their aims. They became known as moral force chartists, who believed that peaceful methods of persuasion such as the holding of public meetings, the publication of newspapers and pamplets and the presentation of petitions to parliament would finally convince those in power to enfranchise the working class. William Lovett was the most acknowledged advocate of moral force, who argued that Chartism should “inform the mind” rather than “captivate the senses”, and should succeed “without commotion or violence”. He was backed by members of the House of Commons who sympathised with the cause, such a

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