The 1832 Reform Act Flashcards
Who were the BPU?
Birmingham Political Union, 1829, founded by Thomas Atwood - wanted to try achieve greater representation for industrial centres
Why was their declining Tory control in the 1820s?
The party was divided over Catholic Emancipation
Why was Catholic emancipation becoming more of an issue in parliament?
The formation of the Catholic Association in Ireland (1823) increased political pressure
What year did Lord Liverpool resign as MP?
1827, 3 new Tory leaders in the next 11 months
How did Lord Wellington divide the Tory party, and into what groups?
In 1829, Announced his support for Catholic Emancipation, divided the group into liberals (supported decision) and ultras (rejected decision)
Catholic Emancipation definition
Since 1691, Catholics had been barred from sitting in parliament
How did the Whigs gain power in 1830?
Although the Tory’s won the election by 42 MPs, Wellington unable to run government with high levels of distrust
What was Grey’s first reform bill?
1831, disenfranchisement of 100 rotten boroughs and seats redistributed
Who blocked Grey’s first and second bills?
The Tory dominated House of Lords
What was the impact of the blockage of the first 2 reform bills?
People upset due to hopes of reform reason for voting Whig government, lead to Bristol riots (130 killed)
How many Whig MPs were re-voted in after the first bill, showing support for reform?
140 majority
Why did Lord Grey believe the 3rd reform bill would be passed?
More conservative, only 30 boroughs lose 1 MP (was 41 in first bill )
What did Lord Grey threaten to create due to anger at the House of Lords continuing to block his reform bills?
Creation of 50 new whig peers to reduce Tory influence , but the King refused
What did Lord Grey do after the 3rd reform bill?
Resigned
What occurred as a result of outrage at Grey’s resignation?
The Days of May, 1832
What occurred in the Days of May?
Middle-class withdrew £1.8 million in savings to destroy government finance
What occurred as a result of the Days of May?
Grey was re-signed to Government as Wellington unable to form government
When was The ‘Great’ Reform Act passed?
4th June 1832
By how many votes did the 1832 Reform Act pass by?
106 votes to 22
How many boroughs were disenfranchised in the 1832 reform act?
56
How many more boroughs lost one MP in the 1832 act?
30
How many new boroughs were created in 1832?
42
How Many extra seats did Scotland and Ireland get in parliament?
8 (Scotland) and 5 (Ireland)
What additional males were given votes in counties in 1832?
Men who owned land worth £10+ a year or rented land worth £50+ a year
What additional men in boroughs received the vote in 1832?
Men who owned/rented land worth £10+ a year, providing they’d owned the property for at least one year and not received poor relief in the previous year
What was the new requirement for voters after 1832?
Voters required to be registered
What was the new size of the voting franchise in Britain after 1832?
Now 650,000 voters (18% of population)
What was one issue not fully improved by the 1832 Reform Act?
Still favoured rural counties ( 370 MPs from the South, only 120 from the North) - inequality still an issue
What does it mean for Lord Russel announcing his support for Catholic Emancipation?
He supported the freedom of Catholics and letting them into parliament
