Britain 1830-1885 Representation and Reform Flashcards
Describe The Political Groups early C19
Tories
The Crown: safeguard against violent revolution The
Church of England: maintain structure of society and safeguard against Catholocism
The Rights of Property: landed property and property in form of factories entailing property rights free from interference of central government
Groups: Ultra Tories (reactionary anti-reformist, old fear of French revolution) Liberal Tories (anti-revolution, reform to preserve)
Whigs:
Sovereignty of Parliament: fear of monarch governing without proper reference to parliament
Greater Freedom of Religious Rights: non-conformists/non-Anglicans
The Rights of Property: same as Tories
The Abolition of Slavery
Groups: Foxite Whigs ( loyal to Fox, followers of Earl Grey, dedicated to reducing power of Crown), Former Liberal Tories (those who left Wellington’s ministry, pro parliamentary reform), Radial Whigs ( young, pro social reform)
Radicals:
(not an organised group, pro-reform, anti-conformist, enthusiasts of French revolution, violent methods, utilitarian society)
Describe the Political System early C19
The Crown:
appointment of ministers of state, control of section of commons ‘placemen’ dependant on Crown for seats, appointment of members of HoL
House of Lords:
peers were hereditary, consisted of army leaders civil service CoE and landowners, controlled constituencies that sent MPs to the commons, could reject bills proposed by HoC
House of Commons:
consisted of 688 elected MPs (voted on personal. local issues), role in deciding and passing laws
Counties:
All counties (no matter what size) could send 2 MPs to parliament, voting qualification was owner of freehold land or property worth £2 a year
Boroughs: towns within a county that had been given a royal charter so able to send 2 MPs to parliament, Rotten boroughs (under populated boroughs returning MPs predominant in the six southern counties), Pocket boroughs (patronage-voters bound by allegiance or financial incentive to vote for the candidate nominated by the landowner) voting qualifications- ‘burgage boroughs’ own a burgage ‘pot-walloper’ boroughs own a heath and not claim poor relief ‘scot and lot’ payment of certain ancient tax ‘corporation’ boroughs only members of the local town council ‘freeman’ boroughs inherited title freeman
Elections:
every 7 years, there were often uncontested elections in pocket boroughs because the patron controlled the election,candidates paid for the cost of their voters’ transport and accommodation plus celebrations, there was no secret ballot voters named their candidate on a husting which was written on a poll book
The Arguments For and Against Reform
For:
Under representation:
11% Adult Men could Vote
Uncontested Elections:
1784-1831 30% elections were contested on average
Inconsistency of Franchise Qualifications in the Boroughs
Rotten Boroughs:
Old Sarum in Wiltshire 7 electors, Dunwich in Suffolk mostly submerged in sea 14 electors, Gatton in Surrey 6 electors,
Pocket Boroughs:
Duke of Newcastle, The Cecil family in Stamford, The Montague family in Huntingdon, The Duke of Devonshire in Knaresborough, Lord Harewood in Ripon
Disproportionate Franchise:
under-represented boroughs (Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford no MPs) over represented county (Cornwall population 300,000 42 MPs) under-represented county (Lancashire population 1.3 million 14 MPs)
Industrialisation:
Increasing economic importance of the middle classes as producers of wealth, changing living conditions creating need for social reform
Against:
Traditionalists: the system has been established for a long time and has worked
Ruling class:
upper class more qualified to rule because of education and power attained by land
Virtual Representation: concept whereby ministers represent the interests of the disenfranchised population, the changing composition of parliament as merchants, lawyers, doctors and ex-military men gained seats making it more representative
Opportunity for young talented politicians to gain seats in parliament- in uncontested elections candidates can be selected by patron and be appointed a minister without support of constituency and having to win elections against experienced opponents
The Government Reaction to Peaceful Protest in early C19
The Six Acts:
- Meetings for petitions limited to the inhabitants of the parish the meeting is held
- Stamp Duty
- Magistrates’ power to search homes for sign of political activity and to try cases previously tried by a judge and jury
- Private military training and amassing the firearms was banned
The Catholic Emancipation Act 1829 and its effects
The Catholic Association Campaign enforced Peel and Wellington to concede Catholic emancipation for fear of violence and civil war in Ireland, the bill was passed in 6 March allowing Catholics to become MPs
In HoC the Whigs voted for and the Ultra Tories voted against, it was passed by 320 to 142, in HoL it was passed with a majority of 2 votes, George IV delayed his royal assent so the cabinet resigned which forced the king to recall Wellington and pass the bill for fear of a Whig government
Split of the Tory Party in to three groups, those who already opposed Wellington over electoral reform; the Ultra Tories who felt betrayed by their leader; those who thought the nation was opposed to Catholic Emancipation and the that the bill wasn’t representative of public interests and therefore for strived for parliamentary reform.
Timeline of Extended Pressure towards The 1832 Reform Act
- Uprisings early C19:
The Spa Fields Meetings 1816:
Who-lead by Henry Spence group of extreme reformers
What- large scale meeting turned to rioting and march on the city intervened by the military.
Where- spa fields, Islington, London
When- 1816
Why- aims to nationalise land and abolish taxes
The Pentridge Rising 1817-
The Blanketeers 1817-
Peterloo 1819-
2.Tradition of Radicalism:
Provincial Press featured political articles through generations of men Edward Baines in Leeds Chronicle Thomas and James Thompson in Leicester Chronicle Charles and Richard Sutton in Nottingham Review, links with political unions
3.Economic Recession 1829:
Bad harvest
4.Reform Movement revival 1829-32:
The Birmingham Political Union 1829-
Who- founded by Thomas Atwood, operated as a ginger group, 100,000 attended meetings in may 1832
What- petitions and public meetings
Where-Birmingham
When- 1829
Why- focus and lead local reform movements
Leeds Association, Edward Baines, editor
Leeds Political Union, Joshua Bowers, glassblower
Leeds Radical Political Union, Mann and Frost, printers
National Political Union with aims to make manufacturing interests represented in HoC
National Union of `Working Classes with aims to achieve universal male suffrage
5. International affairs 1830:
Fear of French revolution, the successful revolution against the undemocratic autocratic King Charles, revolutions in several parts of europe in Brussells, Poland, Parma, Modena and Papal States of Italy=politics was on the the public’s conscience during 1830 elections
6. Economic Downturn 1830:
Raised prices due to high cost of corn and government taxes on products such as candles and tea, 1830 trade slump, 1831-32 cholera epidemic, 1830-32 high unemployment and poor rates poor trade and low wages
7. Swing Riots 1830-31:
Agricultural unrest as workers are put out of work by machinery
8. County Meetings 1830-32:
In protest about distress and taxation
9. Public Reaction to Second Reform Bill 1831:
The reaction to the rejection of the second reform bill was riots in big cities Bristol, Derby, Nottingham and small towns Blandford, Tiverton, marches, The DoWellingoton’s home’s windows were smashed, Radical newspapers with black borders symbolising mourning attacked the CoE, Stregthening of political unions and new political unions in towns that hadn’t had one previously, property of anti-reform lords attacked by stone-throwing mobs
10. ‘Days of May’ Public Reaction 1832:
rallies and riots lead by Thomas Atwood and Francis Place against Tory leader DoW forming a government, anti-tory petitions in westminster, BPU announced 200,000 mean march on London untill Bill became Law, Francis Place suggested investors withdraw money to create finnancial crisis (“stop the Duke” “Go for gold”)
Timeline of the Internal Pressure towards the 1832 Reform Act
1. 1829 Division of the Tory Party:
Weakening of the anti-reform majority in the commons as result of the Catholic Emancipation Act
2.1830 The Crown:
King George IV died in July 1830 and was succeeded by William IV a cautious reformist with Whig sympathies, King’s death means a general election is called (tories continue in power)
3.Whig Party Power 1830:
2 November Wellington’s speech at HoL repudiating parliamentary reform and defending the electoral system provoking collapse of Tory government ministers resign and many join the Whigs, no Tory leader could form a government with the support of majority MPs, William IV appoint Earl Grey as prime minister, new ministry dedicated to reform
4.The First Reform Bill 1831:
31 March Lord John Russell proposal to HoC, passed in HoC by one vote, committee passed amendment objecting to the reduction of MPs, Grey couldn’t get support for the bill without a majority government so he persuaded the King to secure a dissolution of parliament and call a general election
5.The General Election 1831:
Whig Party won a majority of 130 seats due to growing support for reform in the country, Grey needn’t fear wrecking amendments or defeat in the commons
5.The Second Reform Bill 1831:
introduced in June, July it passed its third reading in the commons by 109 votes, 8 October the bill was rejected by 41 votes in HoL,
6.Third Reform Bill 1831:
December Lord John Russell presents third bill, when it reached the HoL fellows lords employ delaying tactics
7.’Days of May’ 1832:
The bill is held up in the Lords, 14 April 1832 Grey and the cabinet resigned when the King refused to create 50 pro-reform peers, William IV recalls Wellington who is unable to form a government, King agrees to create peers however the Lords give in and accept the bill in order to maintain their majority in HoL for future prospects.
8.Third Reform Bill 1831:
In its final reading in the Lords the bill was passed 106 votes to 22 and received royal assent 7 June and became the Reform Act of 1832
The Terms of the first Reform Bill
- 61 boroughs lose both MPs
- 47 boroughs lose one MP
- MPs reduced from 658 to 596
- 46 seats given to large industrial towns of the Midlands
- one voting qualification: man owning or renting a house worth £10 a year
Terms and Effects of the 1832 Reform Act
Disenfranchisement
- 56 rotten and pocket boroughs returning 111 MPs lost their representation ( 60-70 MPs remained dependant on patronage)
- 30 boroughs with fewer than 4,000 inhabitants lost their MPs (including Dunwich, Ilchester, Old Sarum, St. German’s, not including Thetford, Reigate, Westbury and Calne)
- Weymouth anad Melcombe Regis lost two of their four MPs
Redistribution
- 65 seats given to counties (76% increase in the number of MPs who represented english counties)
- 44 seats given to boroughs such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield (continuation of belief in representation of industrial interests rather than numbers of people- still not considered necessary to give parliamentary seats to all large towns)
- 21 smaller towns given 1 MP (enfranchisement of towns representing particular interests such as Frome-wool, Walsall-iron leather, WHitby and SUnderland- shipping)
Franchise
- in the counties: men owning freehold property worth at least £2 a year, holding a copyhold on land at least £10 a year, leasing or renting land worth at least £50 a year
- in the boroughs: owning or living in property worth at least £10 a year for at least a year if they havents owed taxes or received poor relief within the last year, had the vote under previous but not new voting qualifications
- (1 in 5 men were entitled to vote in 1833)
Chandos Clause:
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