Parliamentary Reform - 1832 Great Reform Act Flashcards
What year was the Catholic Emancipation Act?
1829
What was the Catholic Emancipation Act?
Gave roman Catholic’s more political power and allowed Roman Catholics to become MPs .
What impact did the Catholic Emancipation act have?
Split the tory party as it was seen as a betrayal of Tory Ideals, the church of England and the King.
Many Tories never forgave Lord Wellington (PM) and Peel for passing the act
When did George IV die?
1830
What effect did George 4 death have?
The new king William IV had a general election. Although the Tories won, they were not strong enough to establish a government due to their party split. This brought the Whig Party into power, they were more open to reform.
Who led the Whig Party?
Earl Grey.
What was the BPU?
Birmingham Political Union
When was the first meeting of the BPU?
January 1830-
It had 15,000 in attendance. The group, led by Thomas Attwood, were focused on political reform.
How did the French Revolution impact the passing of 1832 reform act?
French Revolution had helped to reinvigorate agitation and political protest in Britain. Many were afraid that a similar event would take place in Britain if the vote was not gained
What were the Swing Riots?
Due to Harvest Shortages and decline in wages, farmers and countryside labourers used acts of arson and destruction of machinery to protest against the poor economic climate.
How did Pamphlets and Newspapers help the GRA?
Pamphlets and newspapers were handed out in industrial towns to gain traction for the movement. A popular example was William Cobbett’s Political Register
What were the Whigs ideas towards reform?
Although more pro-reform than the tories, Grey’s main intention for passing the reform was to pacify any agitation and potential revolution.
Grey and the Whigs did not want democracy and wanted the Land-owning classes to stay in charge, hence why the 1832 act did not include complete universal manhood suffrage.
When was the first Reform Bill introduced into the House of Commons?
March 1831
What were the terms of the 1st Reform Bill?
The bill deprived 60 boroughs of both MPs and another 47 boroughs of 1 MP.
Many of their seats were awarded to new, industrial towns.
The new terms to be able to vote was to own/rent a house worth £10 a year.
Was the 1st Reform Bill passed?
No, it was defeated in the House of Commons.
When was the 2nd Reform Bill introduced to parliament?
June 1831
It was more moderate than the 1st bill.
What was included in the 2nd reform bill?
Second Reform Bill included Tory amendment that would extend the vote to Tenants in counties that rented land worth £50 a year rather than just £2. This was to appease the landed classes who were paying the same way as Tenant farmers by owning land.
Did the 2nd reform bill pass?
No, it failed again. This time in the house of Lords rather than Commons.
What were the effects of rejecting the 2nd reform bill?
Destruction.
Riots in Nottingham, Derby and Bristol which had to be supressed by troops. The bishop was particularly targeted in Bristol where his palace was burnt down in protest of him rejecting their bill. Across Bristol, many government buildings as well as the city centre were destroyed. Peers attacked. Duke of Wellington’s windows smashed/
When was the 3rd Reform Bill introduced?
Dec 1831
Did the 3rd reform bill pass initially?
It passed in commons but was stopped by the Lords again.
How did Earl Grey react to the rejection of the 3rd bill?
Grey and his whig peers resigned as the King did not create 50 new peers (this would give more whig support in Gov to pass the bill)
Political Commitment
After Grey resigned, what did King William do?
He assigned Lord of Wellington to create a parliament. This failed miserably
Why did the new Tory government in 1832 fail?
The Days of May:
The BPU and other political unions staged riots across Britain.
Threatened to Run on the banks and refused to pay taxes.
What happened after the Tory government failed in 1832?
William needed the Whigs back in control to create a government, however, the Whigs would only agree to this if more Whig peers were made and the bill would be passed in Lords
When did the 3rd bill eventually pass in the house of Lords?
June 1832
Many Lords abstained from voting
What were the final terms of the Great Reform Act?
Redistribution of seats = 143 seats taken from rotten boroughs to 13 new boroughs. Electorate increased to 813,000
Borough: Adult men with £10 a year of property
County: Adult men with £2 a year of property / rent £50.
What changed after the passing of the 1832 Great Reform Act?
Change:
Middle classes could vote. More representation in industrial areas. Crown forced to make peers in house of lords.
No Change:
Voting was still open (no secret ballot). Franchise still based on land ownership. Less than 20% of men could vote.
