Causes of 1832 Reform Act

Question 1

What did the London Society for Constitutional Information founded in 1780 propose?

Answer 1

Raise public awareness of the need for reform

Question 2

What did William Pitt propose in 1785?

Answer 2

Disenfranchisement of 36 boroughs and redistribution of seats to counties

Question 3

Name 2 organisations that tried to raise the issue of political reform in the 1790s.

Answer 3

Sheffield Society for Constitutional Information, London Corresponding Society

Question 4

How many people attended a rally at Copenhagen Fields to call for political reform in 1795?

Answer 4

100,000

Question 5

What law of 1795 clamped down on political reform activity after the start of the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer 5

Treason Act

Question 6

Which early radical writer and journalist called for political reform in the early 1800s?

Answer 6

William Cobbett

Question 7

Between what dates did Lord Liverpool serve as a PM?

Answer 7

1812-1827

Question 8

How many soldiers returned from the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer 8

400,000

Question 9

Which radical spoke to the crowds at St Peter’s Fields, Manchester, 1819?

Answer 9

Henry Hunt

Question 10

When and where were the Spa Fields Riots?

Answer 10

Islington, London, 1816

Question 11

Who was hung for his role in the Pentrich Rising in 1817?

Answer 11

Jeremiah Brandreth

Question 12

How did the government try to crush the reform movement in 1819?

Answer 12

Six Acts

Suspension of Habeas Corpus

Question 13

What happened during the Cato Street Conspiracy?

Answer 13

Led by radical Arthur Thistlewood a plot to assassinate the cabinet was uncovered

Question 14

What does the term ‘laissez faire’ mean?

Answer 14

Principle that government should not control the economy or markets

Question 15

Why did middle-class business men think that they should have the vote? Give 2 reasons.

Answer 15

Because they created the wealth of industrial Britain, their entrepreneurial skill and hard work, they were educated

Question 16

Why did Britain prosper after 1820?

Answer 16

Improved harvests, GNP grew by 16.8% and manufacturing grew by 25% during 1821-1829, no large scale discontent

Question 17

When did (the more liberal) Robert Peel become Home Secretary?

Answer 17

1822-27

Question 18

In what years did poor harvests re-energise discontent amongst workers?

Answer 18

1828,1829

Question 19

Why did the Swing Riots break out in 1830 in the South east of England?

Answer 19

Poor harvests, mechanisation (threshing machine) of seasonal labour

Question 20

In what city did major riots occur in response to the failure of a reform bill in 1831?

Answer 20

Bristol

Question 21

Who established the Birmingham Political Union in 1829 and what was his profession?

Answer 21

Thomas Attwood, banker

Question 22

What was the aim of the Birmingham Political Union?

Answer 22

To achieve more representation for industrial centres/towns/cities

Question 23

Why did the ‘union’ of Ireland with Britain in 1800 create more problems than it solved for the British government?

Answer 23

It brought into sharp focus the issue of Catholic Emancipation – (Catholics since Penal Laws in 1691 were barred from sitting in Parliament)

Question 24

Following the resignation of Lord Liverpool in 1827 how many PMs did the Tories have in less than a year?

Answer 24

3

Question 25

Why was the issue of Catholic Emancipation explosive for the Tories?

Answer 25

It divided the party into ‘liberals’ and ‘ultras’ and Wellington wasn’t forgiven for seeing it through

Question 26

When did Catholic Emancipation happen?

Answer 26

1829

Question 27

Who led the Whigs to power in 1830?

Answer 27

Earl Grey

Question 28

What was proposed in the 1831 reform bill by Grey’s government?

Answer 28

Disenfranchisement of 100 rotten and pocket boroughs and redistribution of seats to towns

Question 29

Whose death in 1830 helped to bring about the Reform Act 1832 and why?

Answer 29

George IV because William IV was more pro reform

Question 30

Why did the People of Bristol riot in 1831?

Answer 30

The Lords blocked the 2nd of Grey’s reform bills and the people of Bristol were angry

Question 31

What final tactic did Earl Grey use to ensure the passage of his 3rd reform bill?

Answer 31

The prospect of creating 50 new Whig peers to counterbalance Tory dominance

Question 32

What tactic did the middle-class use to pressure the government to enact reform?

Answer 32

Withdrawal of 1.8 million pounds from banks to destroy government finance

Question 33

Why did the Tories capitulate in 1832 allowing the Reform Act to be passed?

Answer 33

The prospect of 50 new Whig peers to the House of Lords would permanently dilute the Tory dominance

Question 34

What international event encouraged the British elite to consider reform of parliament?

Answer 34

July Revolution in France, 1830