30 December

Divisions between men and women in 19th-century radical politics often came to a head over differing attitudes to alcohol and the common practice of holding radical meetings in pubs. The temperance movement eventually won strong backing in the nascent socialist and trade union movements of the late 19th century, but pub meetings and a heavy-drinking culture have maintained their hold in many organisations right through to the present day.

‘Did our brothers but admit our rights to the enjoyment of those political privileges they are striving for, they would find an accession of advocates in the female sex, who would not only raise the Charter from those dens of infamy and vice from which so many of us have to suffer, but would, with womanly pride, strive to erase that stigma which by the folly of our brothers has been cast on Chartism, not only by exercising their influence out of doors, but by teaching their children a good sound political education. This sir, will never be done while men continue to advocate or meet in pot-houses, spending their money, and debarring us from a share in their political freedom.’

– Abadiah Higginbotham, corresponding secretary of the Women’s Rights Association of Sheffield, writing to Chartist campaigner Ernest Jones in response to an article he had written on ‘Raising the Charter from the Pot-House’