Explain why the demand for Parliamentary Reform grew 1780-1832/ Explain the growth of the Parliamentary Reform Movement

Question 1

Economic
Social
Political

Answer 1

• By the late C18th, major social and economic developments within Britain were combining to create a growing body of opinion critical of the power and policies of the Aristocratic elite.
• Rarely did the mass of the people have a say in political affairs, except as vocal, riotous and ultimately ineffective bystanders at election time. The House of Parliament were regarded as ‘Private Gentleman’s Clubs’

Question 2

Economic

Social

Answer 2

• Many of the Middling Orders resented their dependence upon the landed elite whose policies could have a profound effect on their economic welfare, such as wars affecting trade and manufacture.

Question 3

Political

Answer 3

• The urban, essentially M/C, culture which had developed by the mid C18th spawned a number of clubs, discussion groups and societies which, although initally social in their character, rapidly became politicised. Such groups included: the Rev. Christopher Wyvill’s ‘Yorkshire Association’ and the ‘Society for Constitutional Information’.

Question 4

Individual

Answer 4

The radical John Wilkes, journalist and MP, was an important figure for a number of reasons:

1. He championed causes which challenged the Status Quo.
2. He raised questions about the freedom of the press.
3. He asserted the right of voters to choose an MP without interference from Parliament.
4. He supported the reporting of Parliamentary debate
5. In 1776 he put the case for universal male suffrage

Question 5

Press

Answer 5

• The expansion of the press politicised clubs, discussion groups and societies. This was largely due to the expansion of the press, especially after John Wilkes’ campaign for press freedom in the 1760’s, the press began reporting on political affairs. By late C18th London alone had 13 daily newspapers. John Wilkes’ newspaper was the North Briton. The famous Number 45 edition directly criticised George III. Number 45 became the symbol of liberty.

Question 6

Political

Social

Answer 6

• By the early 1780s, a series of political developments had combined to further undermine the creditability of the ruling elite:
  1. The disastrous and economically crippling American War (1776-1783)
  2. Fears that George III was abusing his powers of royal patronage to keep in power the unpopular administration of Lord North.
  3. The exploitation of rotten boroughs to secure pro-government majorities

Question 7

Revolution

Answer 7

• Most historians now agree that British radicalism was not created by the French Revolution. Rather the French Revolution provided momentum to a process already under way.

Question 8

Social

Answer 8

• The political system in the late C18th and early C19th was based on a pre-industrial society. Therefore it gave little, if any, representation to the new M/C and industrial towns. The system was also plagued by corruption and bribery and a limited franchise. The culmination of the Parliamentary Reform Movement was the 1832 Reform Act.

Question 9

Political

Answer 9

• Pitt the Younger’s attempts to pass Parliamentary Reform in 1780s gave impetus to the movement. The campaigning during the Reform Crisis 1830-32 e.g. Days of May, ensured that Parliamentary Reform was passed in 1832.