politics 1851

Question 1

commons, lords and monarch

Answer 1

commons- aristocracy, elected positions, passed laws
lords- aristocracy, inherited positions and could veto laws
monarch-held sovereign power, could appoint and dismiss ministers, summoned meetings in parliament, influenced elections, not involved in day to day business of governing country

Question 2

constituencies 1851

Answer 2

around 658 MPs, some had 2 others had none or one, seat distribution and population were not correlated, cities like Manchester only had one mp, rotten boroughs came about, north less represented than south

Question 3

franchise 1851

Answer 3

county elections- had to own a property worth more than 40 shillings a year in rent, in Scotland had to own a property valued at more than £100
borough elections- men, had to pay more than £10 a year in rent (middle class).

Question 4

elections 1851

Answer 4

some seats were uncontested and the conclusion was foregone
those that were uncontested were fought for in a corrupt manner and there was open ballot elections

Question 5

aristocracy and landed gentry 1851

Answer 5

aristocracy-consisted of 200 of the wealthiest families with money derived from land, had titles and mansions, were in positions of political leadership
the landed gentry-13 000 families, had a leisured way of life and were MPs and JPs

Question 6

the middle class 1851

Answer 6

growing in numbers, consisted of lawyers, doctors etc. were hard woking and ambitious, believed in free trade and minimal government interference, emulated superiors and climbed up hierarchy through marriage or buying land

Question 7

the working classes 1851

Answer 7

ranged from artisans to unskilled workers, manual labour, factory workers and miners etc. low pay and long hours, suffered during trade depressions and poor harvests where bread prices were high

Question 8

the Anglican Church 1851

Answer 8

monarch was the head of the church, popular in rural areas, centre of villages seats in church represented social hierarchy

Question 9

nonconformists 1851

Answer 9

experiencing larger numbers, baptists and methodists experienced remarkable growth, particularly popular in towns and cities through the support of the middle and working classes