12: Greater Democracy

Question 1

When did the new Whig government come into power and who was their leader?

Answer 1

1830

Grey

Question 2

When was the first reform bill put forward to parliament?

Answer 2

March 1831

Question 3

Who threw out the second reform act in October 1831?

Answer 3

Tory majority in the House of Lords

Question 4

Describe the ‘Days of May’

Answer 4

May 1832
Grey needed the King to create 50 new peers so he could get a reform bill through
King refused so Grey resigned
Mass demonstrations
Wellington failed to gain support so Grey returned as PM
King agreed to create more Lords if the act was blocked again
Act was passed in June and no new peers needed to be created

Question 5

What were some of the effects of the Great Reform Act?

Answer 5

Increase in electorate by 220,000
Polling day reduced from 15 days to 2
Redistribution of seats (South still over represented and North under represented)
End of monopoly on political power from the landed aristocracy
Newly formed middle class had a say

Bribery and corruption continued because there was no secret ballot
No working class men got the vote
No women got the vote

Showed movements towards democracy