Attempts At Parlimentry Reform In The 1780s

Question 1

What attempt was made in 1780

Answer 1

Duke Richmonds Bill 1780

Question 2

DUKE OF RICHMONDS BILL 1780 - what did it propose

Answer 2

-annual parliaments

Manhood suffrage

558 equally populous districts

Question 3

Outcome of richmonds bill 1780

Answer 3

The Bill didn’t even go to a vote due to a lack of support – the Bill was deemed to have been too radical for the time. Richmond went on to join Pitt the Younger’s Government and showed very little interest in Parliamentary Reform thereafter.

Question 4

What attempt was made in 1783

Answer 4

Pitt the Youngers Bill 1783

Question 5

Pitt the youngers bill 1783 - what did it propose

Answer 5

• checking bribery at elections
• disenfranchising corrupt constituencies
• adding to the number of MPs for London

Question 6

Outcome of Pit the youngers bill 1783

Answer 6

His proposals were defeated 293 to 149 votes. In June 1783 he proposed restricting abuses in public office – this passed the HoC, but was rejected by the HoL.

Question 7

What attempt was made in 1785

Answer 7

Pitt the youngers bill 1785

Question 8

Pitt the youngers bill 1785 - what did it propose

Answer 8

Disenfranchising the 36 smallest boroughs

Transferring their 72 parliament seats to larger countries and London

Question 9

Outcome of Pitt the Younegr bill 1785

Answer 9

Rejected by the HoC by 248 to 174 votes. It was
Younger’s Bill 1785
one of Pitt’s few parliamentary defeats and he then turned his attention to financial and administrative reforms. He did not threaten to resign as PM over the issue = MPs then failed to support