Britain Flashcards
How did the Tories defend Britain’s pre-existing political system?
- domino effect - small - large reform
- organic system - reforms interfere
- MP’s DO represent whole country anyway
- aristocracy = naturally best rulers
- alter balance of monarchy if House of C changed
Why was reform an issue by 1830? TWIGMEN
Trade Union Activity
Working class ":("
International context
Government instability
Middle class pressure
Economic situation
New Political organisationsTrade Union Activity pre 1830
• well organised
• politicians feared
• repeal of Combinations Act 1824 -> Trade Unions legal in Britain
- rapid growth of strikes & union activity
Working class discontent pre 1830
- created by Industrial Revolution
- recession of 1820-30 => scared
- saw having vote as answer to political/social problems
- large numbers in radical groups met at mass meetings
- riots
International context by 1830
• July 1830 = another revolution in France
- triggered uprisings in Belgium & A-H empire
- was Britain next? Politicians feared so
Government instability pre 1830
• Lord Liverpool = stable PM for 15 years
- resigned -> Tory gov imploded
• Duke Of Wellington not good politician
• Party split 1830
Middle class pressure pre 1830
• Industrial Revolution => ‘Middle Class’ in Britain
• excluded from political power - not aristocrats
• wanted free trade
- Tory Gov supported protectionism - gave Britain bad name in business world
- financial impact on MC
Economic situation pre 1830
• 1829-30: bad harvests -> Trade depression
• attacking land owners
• rural anger spreads to towns
- scared politicians
- feeling of insecurity in Land Owning class
New political organisations pre 1830
- +100,000 regular attendees
- mixed membership - alliance scared politicians
- BPU - Birmingham Political Union
What did the Tory government split to in 1830?
Ultra Tories - NO REFORM
Canningites - moderate reform = necessary
- should give vote to middle class and Roman CatholicsExisting problems with the Political System
Political power = elite Working class = excluded from power Voting qualifications = confusing Middle class (growing more influential) = unrepresented Unrepresentative constituencies (Ind.Rev)
The 1830 General Election
• won by Tories
- not majority -> can’t pass legislation as Tory split
• Duke of Wellington leads
• November 30th - William IV asks Earl Grey to form and administration
What did the Whigs believe?
- Shouldn’t protect worst bits of pre-existing system
- no reform => Middle/Working Class allegiance = powerful
- help party -> reduce Tory boroughs
The First Reform Bill
March 1830
• introduced in the House of Commons by Lord John Russell
• passed by a single vote (302/301)
• Bill changed so much during committee stage -> Grey asked for dissolution of Parliament -> General election called
• hoping that public support for bill would mean Commons would pass unchanged
Why had the political system in Britain lasted?
- ruling elite = defensive of status quo, so resist change
* no revolutionary, United, protesting movement -> lack pressure on elite
The Second Reform Bill
July 1831
• following the general election - Whigs had majority in Commons (130)
• Second Bill passed through Commons by 136 votes
• Rejected by House of Lords
• widespread riots
The Third Reform Bill
December 1831
• passed easily through Commons - Lords block
• Grey asked for 50 new Whig peers - King refuses - Grey resigns
• King asked Duke of Wellington to form Government
- ‘Days of May’
• Wellington resigns - Grey = PM
• King agrees - 50 Whig peers
When did the Reform Bill become Law?
June 1832
Terms of the Reform Act
(56) boroughs £50 land
Polling limited to 2 days
Successes of the reform Act
• +300,000 men have vote (20%) • more formal party organisations • balance of power - Lords -> Commons • aided future reform • growth in local political activity - passage of Municipal Corporations Act 1835 reforms local Gov
Limitations of the Reform Act
- land owning elite still dominate
- MPs not paid
- Powers of House of Lords and Monarchy is the same
- no secret ballot
- still bribery at elections
- still imbalance of constituencies
The People’s Charter terms
- Vote for all men +21
- secret ballot
- MPs non property owners
- MPs well paid
- equal voting in constituencies
- annual elections for parliament
The People’s Charter presentation
1839: 1.25 million signatures (inc. Queen)
1842: 3 million signatures
April 1948: no unrest at rejection
The Chartists’ aims
Set up by William Lovett 1836
Campaign for further reform
Educate working classes politically
