breadth 2: changing influences in parliament Flashcards
what was a pocket borough
a constituency essentially controlled by the crown or an aristocratic patron
example of very few general elections being held c1780
1701 - 1831: only 29 general elections
Some small boroughs in Lancashire and Cornwall had no elections, patron either stood himself or selected an MP
examples of rotten boroughs being bought/sold
Gatton
1801 sold for £90,000
1830 sold for £180,000 (£9 mil today)
selling votes
pocket boroughs
voters could seek to sell their votes for £10 each (£500 today)
how did aristocracy influence legislation
unelected house of lords could influence or even block laws being passed
example of landlord losing election in pocket boroughs
1830
Lord Penrhyn spent £30,000 bribing electors in Liverpool and still lost
extend of crown influence c1780
Exercised influence in parliament by the appointment of governmental ministers.
After elections it was monarch’s job to appoint political they wanted to be PM, this did not have to be from the party with the most seats
extent of aristocratic influence c1780
many constituencies controlled by crown or aristocratic patron
open voting system, limited franchise, and lack of legislation to prevent bribery meant there was intense pressure to support local patron
Strong influence in House of Commons, although they are not lords they are usually sons/direct relatives of lords.
House of Lords is unelected and has lots of influence
George III (1760-1820) Influence in politics as monarch
- selected prime minister
- influenced parliament through patronage by promising them in return for political support –> 1776 7 of 10 recommended peerages were for MPs who had previously made promises to him
cause for 1780 ‘Economical Reform’
growing concern over how the King was able to influence government through patronage.
Exemplified by governments failure in American War of Independence, rising costs had been funded by increasing taxes.
Politicians pointed out that contracts for military supplies had been given to friends and families of MPs to win support for the government.
when was the American War for Independence
1775 - 1783
‘Economical Reform’
1780
‘the power of the Crown has been increased, and it ought to be diminished’
Motion limited the number of offices that could be awarded by the monarch.
‘Economical’ as it would reduce government costs
who was the ‘Economical Reform’ 1780 an attack on
stated as: reduction in government costs
seen as: attack on unpopular government of Lord North
actual: attack on the Crown (George II)
examples of the crown still having power after 1780 economical reform
1782: alliance between Lord North and radical Charles James Fox formed. King George III refused to support with patronage (weakened their government) and later dismissed them
1783: George III appointed William Pitt the younger as PM (1783 - 1801)
when was William Pitt the younger prime minister
1783 - 1801
Appointed by George III in 1783
Won majority in 1784 general election (supported by his cabinet)
effects of George III appointing William Pitt the younger as PM in 1783
Pitt had a small following of MPs, majority supported North and Fox.
Had to build coalitions by compromise and negation, not done by previous PM’s.
Led to rise in cabinet governments (decisions made in discussion of Cabinet Council)
Growth of Pitts cabinet + reduced patronage = Crown less influential in politics
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
reform acts
reform acts (dates) extended the franchise progressively to voters in industrial areas, less controlled by aristocracy
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
removing rotten/pocket boroughs
process of removing pocket/rotten boroughs & redistributing seats weakened the influence of patrons
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
Crown losing choice of PM
1834: William IV removed Melbourne as PM (holds Whig majority) after tensions of 1832 reform act. Attempts to replace with Conservative Robert Peel but this fails
1880: Queen Victoria wants to appoint Lord Harrington as PM but is pressured by Liberals to appoint Gladstone
‘Bedchamber Crisis’
1839
Victoria agrees to appoint Peel over minority Tory government, but Peel refused unless the Queen’s companions (mainly Whig wives) were replaced with Tory wives. Victoria refused and instead appointed Melbourne (Whig)
outcome of 1839 ‘Bedchamber Crisis’
Independence of monarchy safeguarded.
Showed that the monarchy could not freely appoint minority governments but also that Parliament had a limited influence over the monarch.
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
industrial MPs
1885
number of MPs from industrial and commercial backgrounds outnumber those from landowning elite
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1832 Act
Undermined role of aristocracy & crown
Popular pressure was instrumental –> King pressured into creating sufficient new members of HoL to push bill through. Lords forced to back down on bill they had previously rejected twice.
Both HoL and King intimidated by Grey and reformist movement.
examples of popular pressure being used to pass 1832 acts
riots in Bristol
march of 100,000 lead by BPU
media pressure from ‘The Times’
threat of a ‘run on banks’ by reformers
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1872 Act
1872 Act reduced power of local aristocratic patrons by introducing secret ballot.
They did not know how their tenants voted so could not make threats against them for not voting for them.
reasons for declining influence of the Crown & Aristocracy after 1801:
1883 Act
1883 Act limited how much aristocratic wealth could be spent on elections.
Parties limited to £710 per county constituency, making it accessible for non-aristocratic candidates