7 - The Great Reform Act Flashcards
When did the Swing Riots take place?
1830-31
When did the Whigs come to power?
1830
Where did Swing Riots take place?
Rural parts of Southern and Eastern England
What were the causes of the Swing Riots?
Poor harvests in 1829 and 1830, rising prices and population, shortage of jobs in countryside
What werer the targets of Swing Riots?
New machines which threatened jobs, property of farmers who had reduced labourers’ wages, magistrates who gave harsh sentences
How many cases of Swing Riots were reported between the summer of 1830 and autumn 1831?
1400
What were the results of the Swing Riots?
Thousands arrested and trialed, 19 executed and over 450 were transported for life
What happened in July 1830?
Another French Revolution
What was the main political union and who was it’s leader?
Birmingham Political Union (BPU) led by Thomas Atwood
How many people came to see the BPU’s first meeting?
15,000
What were the BPU’s aims?
To achieve parliamentary reform through pressure from a ‘general political union of the lower and the middle classes’
Who founded the Metropolitan Political Union and who did they attract?
Henry Hunt, attracted artisans and craftsmen
Where were political societies formed?
Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and many other cities
Why did the country want reform?
Middle and lower class excluded, Whigs in power (liberal?), economic and social problems eg Swing Riots, political unions
Why was there a revolution in France and when did it start?
Charles X did not recognise the election results of 1829, revolution erupted in July 1830
When did King George IV die?
June 1830
Who was the new king and why was he different?
George’s brother, William IV, not a reformer but recognised need for change
When was Wellington forced to resign?
November 1830
When was the Reform Bill introduced and by who?
March 1931 by Lord John Russell
What did the Reform Bill want?
Redistribute 100 rotten and pocket boroughs, give seats in the commons to the North and Midlands and add a £10 property qualification
What happened to the first bill?
Passed by 1 vote in commons, defeated in committee stage
Who won the April 1831 election?
Whigs - drew up second bill with a majority
When was the Second Bill introduced?
Summer 1831
What happened to the Second Bill?
Defeated by 41 votes in House of Lords
When was the Third Bill introduced?
December 1831
What hapened to the Third Bill?
Defeated at committee state in March 1832, but still got to Lords in ammended form (only 9 more anti-reformers)
What happened as a result of the King refusing not to create more Whig MPs?
Earl Grey resigned in May 1832
What did political unions do in 1832?
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
What happened due to Wellington being unable to form a government?
William IV had to bow to Earl Grey’s wishes
When was thee Reform Bill passed?
7th June 1832 - by 106 to 22
How many boroughs were disenfranchised?
56 of less than 2,000 voters
How many boroughs lost one of their two MPs?
31
How many new constituencies were created?
22 two member, 20 one member
What was the new property qualification?
£10
What did the Scottish electorate increase to?
65,000
How many people could now vote?
813,000 out of 24 million
