Newport Uprising

a revolt by Welsh miners that was organized by Chartists in November 1839 in the city of Newport. The uprising marked the high point of the first phase of the Chartist movement.

The Newport uprising was brought about by the extremely harsh conditions faced by the miners and their growing dissatisfaction at Parliament’s rejection of their petition during the summer of 1839 and at the arrest of Chartist agitators. At dawn on November 4, Newport was attacked by three insurgent detachments with a total of 3,000 men. Government troops and police who had assembled there earlier opened fire on the poorly armed rebels and routed them. Nine insurgents were killed, 50 were wounded, and 125 were arrested. Persecution of the Chartists intensified after the defeat of the Newport uprising.