Issues With Voting Flashcards
What were problems with constituency size in the 1820s?
There were constituencies with small numbers of voters who could be bribed. For example, in Suffolk the Constituency of Dunwich still had 30 people voting - even though the whole town had been destroyed by coastal erosion.
Some tiny villages sent two MPs to parliament. Southern counties had lots of MPs. Scotland, Wales and Ireland all had proportionally less MPs than England. Big cities like Manchester had no MPs.
In many places the local landowner was often so powerful that he could control the election. For example, in Gatton in Surrey there were only six houses and the owner of the houses controlled the election of two MPs.
What were problems with who could become an MP?
MPs are not paid so only rich people can become MPs. This means they will only stand up for the rights of the rich.
Only men could be MPs and they have to own lots of property to be allowed to stand. This means that not everyone’s views could be heard.
What were problems with who could vote?
Nobody under 18 could vote.
No women were allowed to vote.
Only those with a certain amount of wealth were able to vote.
What were some problems with the system of voting?
The elected MPs join the House of Commons. However, the unelected House of Lords is more powerful than the commons. The Prime Minister usually comes from the House of Lords. People didn’t get to vote for the people with more power.
Voting had to be done in public, which meant that people could be threatened to vote a certain way.
Threats and bribes were often used to convince constituents to vote a certain way.
