Section C : Reform Flashcards
What pressure from below was there in the passing of the 1832 GRA?
- Early Radicalism (Long term)
- Swing Movement 1830 (rural discontent at poverty and threshing machines akin to luddites)
- Widespread Riots following Lords’ rejection of second Reform Bill (Nottingham + Derby)
- Thomas Attwood’s Political Unions (Unite m/c and w/c by 1832 over 100,000 attending BPU meetings)
- Days of May 1832
What was the Swing Movement of 1830?
-Rising discontent and violence akin to the luddites against replacement via machinery.
How many rotten and pocket boroughs were disenfranchised in the 1832 GRA and why?
- 56 rocket + pocket boroughs
- Whigs removed them as they were viewed as Tory favourable.
Why was pressure from below possibly insignificant in the 1832 GRA?
-The main features of the bill were decided well before popular pressure had reached its height.
How many people attended the BPU in 1832?
-100,000 attendees in 1832, a united front from the middle class and working class.
Why were the Whigs particularly desperate to pass the 1832 GRA?
- They had been in opposition since 1807
- “Reform that ye may preserve”
How many men could now vote as a result of the 1832 GRA?
-1 in 5 adult men could now vote.
How did the 1832 GRA divide the classes?
-The middle class was separated from the w/c as a result of the £10 household suffrage clause.
What evidence is there that seats were not fairly distributed after the 1832 GRA?
-Totnes, with a population of (179) had the same amount of MPs as Liverpool population of (8500)
What happened to the aristocracy as a result of the 1832 GRA?
- Nothing, landed interests still dominated Parliament.
- Corruption and bribery continued.
How were seats redistributed in the 1867 SRA?
- 45 taken from the boroughs
- 25 seats given to the counties
- This benefited the conservatives.
Whose death influenced the 1867 SRA?
-Palmerston had died, it was an unwritten rule that reform would not occur whilst he was alive.
How might principles might have influenced the 1867 SRA?
-Gladstone was impressed by the working class’ morality in regards to the North in the American Civil War.
How did political self-interest influence the 1867 SRA?
- Lord Russell was ageing and wanted to cement his name in history.
- Gladstone wanted to use it as a launching pad.
Why were the conservatives desperate to pass reform through the 1867 SRA?
-The conservatives had faced 20 years in opposition.
Was pressure from below a notable motivator of the 1867 SRA?
- There was no substantial pressure from below
- However, population had increased from the 1832 reform by 5 million.
How many men could now vote thanks to the 1867 SRA?
-From 1 in 5 to 1 in 3 men.
Was the SRA effective at changing overrepresentation?
-No, over representation continued.
Why was SRA crucial to the development of party organisation?
- This massively enlarged electorate made organisation vital to a party’s success in the election.
- Parties now knew that social reforms could gain them favour.
- If reform was inevitable, then why not take the opportunity?
When was the Secret Ballot Act passed?
-1872
When was the Corrupt Practices Act passed and what was it?
- 1883
- set a limit on expenditure and prohibited treating and bribery.
- Required expenditure to be accounted for.
What was the significance of the 1872 Secret Ballot Act?
- In the short term, votes could still be bought.
- In the long term, the system was made more representative and democratic.
- Allowed groups such as the IHR to oppose traditionally powerful figures.
What was the significance of the 1883 Corrupt Practices Act?
- Within 30 years amount per vote spent fell from roughly 18s to 3s.
- The use of volunteers now essential
What did the 1884 TRA entail?
- Household suffrage
- Lodger franchise extended to the counties.
