Causes of 1832 Reform Act Flashcards

1
Q

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

A

Raise public awareness of the need for reform

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2
Q

What did William Pitt propose in 1785?

A

Disenfranchisement of 36 boroughs and redistribution of seats to counties

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3
Q

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

A

Sheffield Society for Constitutional Information, London Corresponding Society

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4
Q

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

A

100,000

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5
Q

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

A

Treason Act

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6
Q

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

A

William Cobbett

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7
Q

Between what dates did Lord Liverpool serve as a PM?

A

1812-1827

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8
Q

How many soldiers returned from the Napoleonic Wars?

A

400,000

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9
Q

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

A

Henry Hunt

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10
Q

When and where were the Spa Fields Riots?

A

Islington, London, 1816

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11
Q

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

A

Jeremiah Brandreth

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12
Q

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

A

Six Acts

Suspension of Habeas Corpus

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13
Q

What happened during the Cato Street Conspiracy?

A

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

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14
Q

What does the term ‘laissez faire’ mean?

A

Principle that government should not control the economy or markets

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15
Q

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

A

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

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16
Q

Why did Britain prosper after 1820?

A

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

17
Q

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

A

1822-27

18
Q

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

A

1828,1829

19
Q

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

A

Poor harvests, mechanisation (threshing machine) of seasonal labour

20
Q

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

A

Bristol

21
Q

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

A

Thomas Attwood, banker

22
Q

What was the aim of the Birmingham Political Union?

A

To achieve more representation for industrial centres/towns/cities

23
Q

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

A

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

24
Q

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

A

3

25
Q

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

A

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

26
Q

When did Catholic Emancipation happen?

A

1829

27
Q

Who led the Whigs to power in 1830?

A

Earl Grey

28
Q

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

A

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

29
Q

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

A

George IV because William IV was more pro reform

30
Q

Why did the People of Bristol riot in 1831?

A

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

31
Q

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

A

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

32
Q

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

A

Withdrawal of 1.8 million pounds from banks to destroy government finance

33
Q

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

A

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

34
Q

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

A

July Revolution in France, 1830