Assess the reasons for the passing of the Great reform Act in 1832 Flashcards
What were the three main reasons?
- Tory Weakness
- Popular Support and Fear of Revolution
- Whig Strength and Support
What was the main Tory weakness?
Divisions in the Tory party
What caused divisions in the Tory party?
Catholic Emancipation had split the Tory party into several groups so they were unable to form a government in May 1832.
Why did Tory party divisions make it difficult to form a government?>
Some Tories refused to work with each other, so the Whigs were in a much stronger position.
What were the four main elements of Popular Support and Fear of Revolution?
- Economic depression and social distress
- Riots and the threat of violence / revolution
- Petitions and pressure from political clubs and political unions
- The fear that the middle and working class movements would unite
How did the Economic depression and social distress contribute to the GRA?
The economic and social distress between 1829 and 1831 made working class people support parliamentary reform.
What was the significance of the riots and the threat of revolution?
The Swing Riots had shown the threat of mass violence. Spontaneous riots sprang up after the Second Reform Bill.
What happened during the riots of May 1832?
The Duke of Wellington’s house was attacked and many Tories feared for their lives. In 1832, during the ‘Days of May’, some feared revolution or even a civil war.
How did the petitions and pressure for political reform contribute to the passing of the GRA?
Political Unions increased pressure on parliament, presenting 3,000 petitions. The political unions were mostly middle class, organised, well-led and committed and their focus on peaceful protest meant that the government could not easily repress them.
What were the methods of those pressing for political reform?
Their methods developed as the crisis continued, e.g. Francis Place’s “To stop the Duke, Go for Gold” campaign. Had this continued, it would have destroyed the banking system.
How did the fear that the middle and working class movements would unite contribute?
Some radicals, like Henry Hunt, claimed that the Whigs were only reforming parliament to keep their own power, as it would prevent the middle and working classes joining together. They wanted to prevent this, fearing to could develop into a french-styled revolution.
What were the four key reasons for Whig Strength and Support?
- Earl Grey and the Whigs determination
- The role of the new king, William IV
- The stamped and unstamped Press
- The blatant examples of corruption
How did Earl Grey and the Whigs determination contribute?
Earl Grey skilfully managed the reform crisis. He kept pressure on the Tories, used the political unions and fear of revolution to his advantage and persuaded the king to support.
How did the role of William IV help?
George IV was completely against reform but he died in 1830. The new King William IV was more liberal in his attitude and was more easily influenced by Earl Grey. William IV eventually agreed to create new Whig peers if the House of Lords rejected the Third Reform Bill.
How did the press contribute?
Continued to support the Whigs reform bills and kept the pressure on parliament.
