Politics in the 18th-19th century Flashcards
What is patronage?
The buying or acquisition of MPs seats in Parliament by wealthy landowners
What percentage of MPs were financed by Lords in 1801?
50%
How many different types of electoral systems were there in the boroughs?
6
What was a potwalloper borough?
A hearth big enough to boil a pot on to be able to vote
What was a pocket borough?
A borough where the MP was in the pocket of the landowner/lord (patronage) small borough easily manipulated by land owner
Why was Old Sarum a problem?
Only 7 voters but 2 MPs/pocket borough
Why was Dunwich a rotten borough?
East Anglia former borough fallen into the sea and therefore minimal voters
What was a Scot and Lot borough?
vote to all male householders who paid local rates e.g. Westminster over 5000 voters but Gatton only had 6.
Name one example of a Scot and Lot borough – vote to all male householders who paid local rates
Westminster over 5000 voters but Gatton only had 6.
Which northern industrial town had a population of 250,000 people but no MP?
Manchester
Why were Catholics unhappy with the electoral system in Ireland?
Restrictions on Catholics voting rights/you couldn’t be an MP if you were catholic
When was the Catholic Emancipation Act?
1829
How many MPs did a county return to Parliament?
2
What could a 40 shilling freeholder in a county do?
Have the right to vote in a county
What percentage of the population of Britain could vote in 1800?
11%
