7 - The Great Reform Act

Question 0

When did the Swing Riots take place?

Answer 0

1830-31

Question 1

When did the Whigs come to power?

Answer 1

1830

Question 2

Where did Swing Riots take place?

Answer 2

Rural parts of Southern and Eastern England

Question 3

What were the causes of the Swing Riots?

Answer 3

Poor harvests in 1829 and 1830, rising prices and population, shortage of jobs in countryside

Question 4

What werer the targets of Swing Riots?

Answer 4

New machines which threatened jobs, property of farmers who had reduced labourers’ wages, magistrates who gave harsh sentences

Question 5

How many cases of Swing Riots were reported between the summer of 1830 and autumn 1831?

Answer 5

1400

Question 6

What were the results of the Swing Riots?

Answer 6

Thousands arrested and trialed, 19 executed and over 450 were transported for life

Question 7

What happened in July 1830?

Answer 7

Another French Revolution

Question 8

What was the main political union and who was it’s leader?

Answer 8

Birmingham Political Union (BPU) led by Thomas Atwood

Question 9

How many people came to see the BPU’s first meeting?

Answer 9

15,000

Question 10

What were the BPU’s aims?

Answer 10

To achieve parliamentary reform through pressure from a ‘general political union of the lower and the middle classes’

Question 11

Who founded the Metropolitan Political Union and who did they attract?

Answer 11

Henry Hunt, attracted artisans and craftsmen

Question 12

Where were political societies formed?

Answer 12

Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and many other cities

Question 13

Why did the country want reform?

Answer 13

Middle and lower class excluded, Whigs in power (liberal?), economic and social problems eg Swing Riots, political unions

Question 14

Why was there a revolution in France and when did it start?

Answer 14

Charles X did not recognise the election results of 1829, revolution erupted in July 1830

Question 15

When did King George IV die?

Answer 15

June 1830

Question 16

Who was the new king and why was he different?

Answer 16

George’s brother, William IV, not a reformer but recognised need for change

Question 17

When was Wellington forced to resign?

Answer 17

November 1830

Question 18

When was the Reform Bill introduced and by who?

Answer 18

March 1931 by Lord John Russell

Question 19

What did the Reform Bill want?

Answer 19

Redistribute 100 rotten and pocket boroughs, give seats in the commons to the North and Midlands and add a £10 property qualification

Question 20

What happened to the first bill?

Answer 20

Passed by 1 vote in commons, defeated in committee stage

Question 21

Who won the April 1831 election?

Answer 21

Whigs - drew up second bill with a majority

Question 22

When was the Second Bill introduced?

Answer 22

Summer 1831

Question 23

What happened to the Second Bill?

Answer 23

Defeated by 41 votes in House of Lords

Question 24

When was the Third Bill introduced?

Answer 24

December 1831

Question 25

What hapened to the Third Bill?

Answer 25

Defeated at committee state in March 1832, but still got to Lords in ammended form (only 9 more anti-reformers)

Question 26

What happened as a result of the King refusing not to create more Whig MPs?

Answer 26

Earl Grey resigned in May 1832

Question 27

What did political unions do in 1832?

Answer 27

BPU held mass demonstrations. In London, Francis Place’s Union wanted people to refuse to pay taxes and take over government.
There were strikes and demonstrations on a national basis

Question 28

What happened due to Wellington being unable to form a government?

Answer 28

William IV had to bow to Earl Grey’s wishes

Question 29

When was thee Reform Bill passed?

Answer 29

7th June 1832 - by 106 to 22

Question 30

How many boroughs were disenfranchised?

Answer 30

56 of less than 2,000 voters

Question 31

How many boroughs lost one of their two MPs?

Answer 31

31

Question 32

How many new constituencies were created?

Answer 32

22 two member, 20 one member

Question 33

What was the new property qualification?

Answer 33

£10

Question 34

What did the Scottish electorate increase to?

Answer 34

65,000

Question 35

How many people could now vote?

Answer 35

813,000 out of 24 million