- Chartism was a significant working-class movement in Britain from 1838 to 1848, advocating for the People's Charter, which demanded political reforms like universal male suffrage, secret ballot, and annual parliaments. - The trade union movement faced challenges and setbacks in the early 19th century, including legal restrictions (like the Combination Acts until 1824/25) and failed general strikes (like the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union in 1834). However, it did not simply "decline" by the 1830s or entirely fail the working class; it continued in various forms and saw periods of growth and influence later in the century. Chartism itself emerged partly because existing political and economic structures, including the effectiveness of trade unions at that specific juncture, were deemed insufficient by many workers.