5. Consequences of Reform Flashcards
What are the 4 areas for this plan?
- Effects on representation
- Change of politicians
- Electorate
- Growing Agitation
Effects on representation
How many boroughs were disenfranchised and how many lost one Member of Parliament (MP)?
56 boroughs were disenfranchised, and a further 30 lost one MP.
Effects on representation
How many new boroughs were created, and how many seats were allocated to English counties?
42 new boroughs were created, and 62 seats were allocated to English counties.
Effects on representation
What was notable about the creation of 22 of the new boroughs?
They were 2-member constituencies created for new industrial towns such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds.
Effects on representation
How many boroughs still had less than 500 electors, and how many had fewer than 300?
73 boroughs had less than 500 electors, and 31 had fewer than 300.
Effects on representation
What power did the House of Lords retain despite these changes?
The House of Lords retained the power to veto.
Change of politicians
What financial requirement was necessary to stand as a Member of Parliament (MP)?
Candidates needed to have an income of £600, making it expensive to stand as an MP.
Change of politicians
What proportion of individuals in cabinets from 1830-1866 were from the middle class?
Only 14 out of 103 individuals in cabinets were from the middle class.
Change of politicians
How did the percentage of contested seats change before and after 1832?
The percentage of contested seats increased from 30% before 1832 to 50% after
Change of politicians
What did the Whigs stand for, and which social class did they attract?
The Whigs stood for moderate reform and attracted the support of those in the middle class.
Change of politicians
How long were the Tories/Conservatives in power over the 20-year period from 1832 to 1852?
They were in power for fewer than 7 years.
Change of politicians
During which years did the Whigs hold power for an extended period, and who was the Prime Minister?
The Whigs were in power for extended periods, such as 1835-1841 when Viscount Melbourne was Prime Minister.
Electorate
How much did the size of the electorate grow from and to after the Great Reform Act of 1832?
It grew from 366,000 to 650,000, approximately 18% of the male population.
Electorate
What change did the 1832 Great Reform Act make to property qualifications?
It reduced the property qualification from owning £10 a year or renting £50 a year.
Electorate
How many people qualified to vote in Leeds out of a population of 125,000 after the reform?
Only 5000 qualified to vote.
Electorate
What was the Whigs’ stance on the property qualification for voting?
They made no attempt to argue against the property qualification, which effectively excluded the working class from voting.
Electorate
What was the primary principle behind the Great Reform Act of 1832?
The primary principle was to stabilise the threat of revolution and gain the support of the middle class.
Electorate
Which newspaper served as the mouthpiece of radicalism, and what message did it convey?
The “Poor Man’s Guardian,” a penny weekly London Newspaper, conveyed the message that “millions will not stop in the shadows,” indicating a demand for broader political participation.
Growing agitation
What were the main demands outlined in the People’s Charter of 1837?
Suffrage for all men over 21, a secret ballot, annual parliaments, abolition of property requirements, and constituencies of equal size.
Growing agitation
How many signatures did the first Chartist petition in 1839 receive, and how many were rejected?
1.2 million signatures, with 235 accepted and 46 rejected.
Growing agitation
What were the results of the second Chartist petition in 1842?
It received 3.3 million signatures, with 287 accepted and 49 rejected.
Growing agitation
How many branches and members did the National Charter Association (NCA) have by April 1842?
The NCA had over 401 branches and 50,000 members.
Growing agitation
Who founded London’s Working Men’s Association, and when was it founded?
It was founded by William Lovett in 1836.
Growing agitation
What were some of the violent uprisings associated with Chartism?
The Newport Rising in 1839 and the Plug Riots in 1842 were notable examples.
