Growth Of Parliamentary Democracy Flashcards
Constitution definition
A collection of fundamental principles on which a state organises its government
What did freeholder mean
A similar franchise to counties
When was the publication of “rights of man”
1792
What years were the Napoleonic wars
1793-1815
What was the pre reform rules for counties
Each counties elected 2 MPs to Westminster. To be an MP there was a requirement of ownership of a freehold property worth more than 40 shillings a year.
What was the problem with the pre reform rules for counties with example
Each county elected 2 MPs regardless of their size - in 1800 Bedfordshire had a population of 2000 while Yorkshire had a population of 20,000 yet they still had the same number of MPs
What was 1 similarity and 1 difference between counties and boroughs
Counties were rural shires in Britain whereas boroughs were urban towns
They both elected 2 MPs
What were the 6 types of borough
- Corporation
- Freeman
- Scot and lot
- Burgage
- Potwalloper
- Freeholder
What were the rules for corporation boroughs
Only members of the town council could vote
What were the rules for freemen boroughs
Anyone with a status of “freeman” could vote. This title was either inherited or acquired through marriage and was bestowed if the recipient had received an honour from the local corporation or served as an apprentice in the borough
What were the rules for “Scot and lot” boroughs
Anyone who paid poor rates could vote
What were the rules for burgage boroughs
“Burgage” was an ancient form of rent and the owner of property with this rent could vote
What were the rules for a “potwalloper” borough
Households who had a hearth that was big enough enough to boil a pot could vote
What were the rules for freeholder boroughs
A similar franchise as the counties
What was a secret ballot
A method where you could vote in private anonymously.
What was a pocket borough
A small borough which could easily be manipulated or controlled by the prominent family or landowner by coercion or bribery
How much was the pocket borough of Gatton in survey sold for at auction in 1801 just so the owner didn’t have to stand for election against a rival
£90,000
What was a rotten borough + an example
A small town or hamlet that used to be prominent in the Middle Ages but he over time declined in stature. Despite their reduced status they still retained their 2 MPs because of their past importance
Borough of Old Sarum, north of Salisbury, which by the late 1700 had all but disappeared but still had 2 MPs
Dun-which, coats of Suffolk, had 14 voters and only 32 dwelling but still had 2 MPs
In 1831 which were 2 growing cities that still had no representation
Manchester had more than 182000
Birmingham had 144000
What were the Gordon riots
Anti catholic riots that took place in 1780 to reduced catholic discrimination in Britain