1867 reform act

Question 1

what were the reasons for desire for reform in the 1860s?

Answer 1

1. (mostly WC) population increase since 1832
2. radicals like bright and cobden continued pressure for reform in and outside of parliament
3. trade union movement + in 1864 reform union ( alliance of MC & UC) campaigned for reform
4. Gladstone had been convince of the need for reform and started to see WC as more responsible
5. conservatives accepted that reform inevitable
6. American civil war made WC more aware of rights and showed higher ups that WC were becoming politically mature

Question 2

why did disraeli and conservatives block the liberal 1866 reform bill?

Answer 2

Disraeli was to introduce his own reform bill in 1867 wanted to take credit for the reform as they saw it would happen anyway.

Question 3

when was the conservatives reform bill passed?

Answer 3

august 1867 despite facing opposition from within their own party

Question 4

what are the personal motives for Disraeli passing the 1867 reform bill?

Answer 4

• he was trying to ensure he would become the next leader of the party after Derby
• Watts said he “seized the initiative with a bold stroke of political opportunism.”

Question 5

what does it mean that the conservatives wanted to ‘dish the liberals’ with the 1867 reform act?

Answer 5

to show the conservatives as a party of reform to gain an advantage over the Liberals.

Question 6

what was the hyde park protest?

Answer 6

the park had been closed due to a planned protest which lead to violent protests
> pressure for 1867 reform? 6 months between really that threatened

Question 7

when was the hyde park protest?

Answer 7

summer 1866

Question 8

what were the main terms of the 1867 reform act?

Answer 8

vote was given to men who payed rates in boroughts & in counties if they paid £12 a year
rotten boroughs with population less than 10,000 lost 1 MP

Question 9

what were the positives of the 1867 reform act?

Answer 9

• electorate was almost doubled from 1.36 million to 2.46
  million.
• Workers in industrial areas received the vote.

Question 10

what were the negatives of the 1867 reform act?

Answer 10

• In the counties, high qualification stopped WC being franchised. aristocratic protectionism> wealthy farmers and landowners.
• still no secret ballot.
• Many small towns with only just over 10,000 inhabitants still had two MPs.

Question 11

what were the consequences of the 1867 reform act?

Answer 11

• too many voters to bribe meant campaigning had to be used to gain votes
• national & local party organisations grew i.e carlton clubs ( conservatives )