Representation of the people act 1884-85

Question 1

Introduction of another reform bill

Answer 1

• 1884 - William Gladstone PM
• believed it was safe to enfranchise agricultural and rural workers
• they were also likely to vote liberal

Question 2

Terms of the reform act 1884

Answer 2

• franchise extended to all households in counties and lodgers who paid £10 in rent
• added nearly 2.5 million voters
• 80% adult males

Question 3

Blocking of the bill

Answer 3

• blocked in HoL
• Salisbury aware of liberal advantage to enfranchise rural workers
• feared bill would weaken conservative support

Question 4

Arlington street compact

Answer 4

• conservatives would allow the act to pass if it was followed with a major redistribution of seats
• conservative strongholds created
• gerrymandering

Question 5

Impact of the bill

Answer 5

• uniform electoral qualification
• miners and agricultural workers now had the vote
• dramatic increase in size of electorate
• 2.5 million new voters

Question 6

Limitations of the bill

Answer 6

• household suffrage still excluded many adult males
• many still didn’t meet the residency qualification
• women still disfranchised
• w/c MPs still rare due to no payment for MPs

Question 7

Redistribution act 1885

Answer 7

• equal electoral districts
• single member constituencies
• 50,000 per constituency
• 28 boroughs with larger populations had 2 MPs

Question 8

How did redistribution benefit the conservatives

Answer 8

• many suburban constituencies created
• majority of electorate property owning m/c in redrawn constituency boundaries
• likely to vote conservative

Question 9

Declining power of the landowning class

Answer 9

• reduction in number of rural seats
• enlargement of country electorate reduced influence of landowning patrons
• more MPs from commerical/industrial backgrounds in parliament