Protest & Reform

Question 1

Change on electorate after 1832 act

Answer 1

Electorate rose from 366,000 to 650,000 (18% of male pop)

Adult males who either owned £10 of land or rented land worth £50 a year

Question 2

Change on Politicians after 1832 act

Answer 2

Increased Involvement of middle classes
Increase of contested seats from 30% to 50% after 1832
56 boroughs disenfranchised, extra 30 losing one MP
42 new boroughs and 62 new seats

Question 3

Effects on representation after 1832 act

Answer 3

The imbalance between rural and urban areas addressed.

Municipal Corporations act 1835 led to increased representation in local government and initiatives.

Question 4

Issues with the 1832 act

Answer 4

Overall control still with elites
Changes to moderate as to prevent revolution
Too expensive for middle-classes to run for MP
South still overrepresented
Leeds only had 5000 qualified to vote from pop. of 125,000
only 14 cabinet member middle class from 1830-66
Power of king and house of lords remained

Question 5

Failures of chartism- use of petitions

When was the first petition?

Answer 5

First petition 1839= 1.2 million signatures by May 1839, was rejected by 235 to 46.
A strike was planned by chartists, gov sent 6,000 troops to keep peace.

Question 6

Failures of chartism- use of violence

Answer 6

The Newport Rising 1839= 3-4th November, workers marched into Westgate hotel. Soldiers killed 20 and wounded 50. All the leaders were arrested.

The Plug Riots 1842= after rejection of 2nd petition, 500,000 workers removed plugs from factory boilers, by sept 15 counties were affected. Peel had 1,000 chartists arrested, despite it not being a chartist protest.

Question 7

Failures of chartism- political organisations

Answer 7

The National Charter Association (NCA)= formed in Manchester, July 1840. Modelled on a trade union structure. April 1842, 401 branches and 50,000 members, end of 1842 70,000 members. Concerned about the ‘physical force’ chartists. Failed due to lack of money.

Question 8

Why did chartism fail- lack of support

Answer 8

Attitude of parliament= parliament thought that change had already happened, Earl Grey warned against pressure for change that wasn’t necessary.

Lack of middle class support= the physical force turned them away from the cause. They supported the Anti-Corn Law League instead. The middle class was content with their gains from 1832.

Question 9

Why did chartism fail- divisions

Answer 9

Divisions among the leadership= two types of chartist: moral force and physical force. Moral force wanted education and co-operation. Physical wanted armed struggles, O’Connor was both, he threatened violence but stayed within law. He divided many.

Regional differences= stronger in the north, controlled by the more physical chartists, the south (Birmingham) were controlled by moral. Allowed gov to divide and conquer.

Question 10

Why did chartism fail- parliament

Answer 10

Strength of state= following 1832 it was stable. 1839 Rural Police Act ensured nationwide police force. During Kennington Common demonstration London had 7,000 soldiers & 4,000 police & 85,000 special constables. Had new railway system to move troops around.

Peel’s reforms= well considered laws were introduced eg Mines Act (1842) and Repeal of the Corn Laws (1846). Wages rose and living standards increased, conspiring against chartists.

Question 11

Causes of 1867 reform- legacy of 1832

Answer 11

There was no attempt to hide the fact that the £10 limit on the reform act was to exclude lower classes from voting.
Chartist movement kept idea of reform around.
It paved the way for future reform.

Question 12

Causes of 1867 reform- pressure groups

Answer 12

1864 National Reform Union formed to get all men the vote.
1865 the Reform League
Mass demonstrations
1864- Gladstone wanted workers to have vote, March 1866 presented reform bill.
Disraeli introduced another bill in March 1867
Queen was in favour of reform

Question 13

Causes of 1867 reform- other

Answer 13

American civil war debunked idea that working class was selfish.
Population changes- 24 million (1821) to 31 million (1861). Electoral map out of date.

Question 14

1867 reform act changes

Answer 14

45 seats taken from boroughs of under 100,000 people, 7 were disenfranchised
25 of those seats went to the counties, 20 went to new boroughs, 6 boroughs gained a seat.
1 million voters added to the franchise.

Question 15

Successes of 1867 reform act

Answer 15

Showed workers had minds of their own
Parties now realised importance of campaigning to win votes
Led to Liberals winning in 1868
Led parties to represent the people
More diverse electorate
Political power shifted to largest area of society

Question 16

Failure of 1867 reform act

Answer 16

Large areas of north and midlands under-represented
Property still determined franchise
Plural voting was permitted for those who owned property in a county and borough.

Question 17

Changing attitudes in 1860s- role of parliamentary powers

Answer 17

Death of Palmerstone allowed for focus on reform, Earl Russell was determined to do so. Russell and Gladstone pushed for reform together.

Disraeli took political advantage and began to introduce moderate reform bill, which was passed in August 1867.

Question 18

What were the Hyde park riots

Answer 18

1866, the Reform League help a meeting on 23rd July, which was called illegal by home secretary and Hyde Park was cornered off. A large crowd still assembled and 200,000 entered the park. It ended peacefully.

Question 19

Changing attitudes in 1860s- failure of first liberal bill

Answer 19

March 1866, Gladstone introduced a reform bill, but it wasn’t liberal enough for some. The bill split the liberal party and the bill was defeated.

Question 20

Who were the Reform League?

Answer 20

Formed 1865
More radical than Reform Union
Attracted ex-Chartists
Led by Edward Beales
Seen as assertive but respectable

Question 21

Who were the National Reform Union?

Answer 21

Formed in 1864

Wanted to expand franchise to all male ratepayers, secret ballot and equal distribution of seats.

Question 22

What are the factors for a ‘Consequences of reform’ essay?

Answer 22

Effects on representation
Change on politicians
Electorate
Growing agitation

Question 23

What are the factors for a ‘Growth of reform AFTER 1832’ essay?

Answer 23

legacy of 1832 reform act
roles of pressure groups
actions of political parties
external factors

Question 24

Who were the Complete Suffrage Union?

Answer 24

The Complete Suffrage Union (CSU)= formed in 1842, had support from middle class. April 1842, over 50 branches. Didn’t survive beyond 1842.

Question 25

When was the second Chartist petition?

Answer 25

Second petition 1842= activated by economic recession. By April 3.3 million signatures.

Question 26

When was the third Chartist petition?

Answer 26

Third petition 1848= received 5.7 million signatures, only 2 million were real.

Question 27

When were the Chartists?

Answer 27

1838 to 1858

Question 28

When was the French revolution?

Answer 28

1749