November 4th marks the anniversary of the Newport rising, when hundreds of men from across South wales marched into Newport demanding voting rights, arguably the start of democracy in the UK. We’ll be taking a look at the story a full 185 years after the events transpired.
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00:00185 years ago, roughly 3,000 men from across South Wales marched together in what could
00:07arguably be called the most important event in Newport's history. The Chartist uprising
00:12is often called the start of democracy in the UK, and the city played a huge role in
00:16that story. Back then in 1839, only a select few could vote, including those who owned
00:22land for example. But people wanted to see that change, and grant voting for all men
00:27over a certain age. John Frost and a group of his closest allies decided to march into
00:31the centre of Newport, which at that point was the biggest city in the area, and demanded
00:36the right to vote outside the Westgate Hotel. It led to a stand-off with officials, with
00:41gunshots and arrests made, but the importance of that day lives long in British democracy.
00:47Newport prides itself on its democratic history, with organisations still celebrating the occasion,
00:52and a festival taking place in the city following the route of the marches, remembering what
00:56Newport gave all those years ago.