The 1867 Reform Act

Question 1

What was the size of the population of Britain in 1861?

Answer 1

31 million

Question 2

What was the borough franchise qualification as set in 1832 Reform Act?

Answer 2

£10

Question 3

What did Lord Russell propose in 1852 to extend the franchise?

Answer 3

that the existing borough qualification should be decreased from £10 to £6

Question 4

How many times was Lord Russell’s bill (of 1852) to extend the franchise rejected by Parliament?

Answer 4

3 times

Question 5

What was the main reason that measures to extend the franchise in the 1850s were defeated?

Answer 5

An uderlying fear of the working class becoming enfranchised and voting for the Liberals.

Question 6

What reform measure did the Conservative Party offer in 1859?

Answer 6

To retain the existing borough franchise and extend it into the counties.

Question 7

What law was passed in 1858 that enhanced the democratic process?

Answer 7

The removal of property qualifications for MPs

Question 8

Give 2 reasons why political reform was off the agenda in the early 1860s?

Answer 8

Lord Palmerston was opposed to it and foreign policy issues were important

Question 9

What did Birmingham MP John Bright found with Richard Cobden in 1839?

Answer 9

The Anti-Corn Law League

Question 10

What did MP John Bright begin in 1858 aimed at promoting political reform?

Answer 10

A series of public speeches

Question 11

When did the American Civil War begin and end?

Answer 11

1861-1865

Question 12

How many people were employed in the textile industry in Lancashire by 1860?

Answer 12

355,000

Question 13

How did the American Civil War contribute to political reform in Britain?

Answer 13

Cotton imports into the UK stopped due to the Union blockading the Confederate southern ports. Textile workers were laid off but they were supportive of the anti-slavery movement in the USA and this impressed British leaders such as Gladstone.

Question 14

How did Lord Palmerston refer to the working class?

Answer 14

the ‘residuum’

Question 15

What organisation was formed in 1864 calling for an extension to the franchise, equal distribution of seats and a secret ballot?

Answer 15

The National Reform Union

Question 16

Who was Samuel Morley?

Answer 16

A prominent member of the Reform Union, MP for Nottingham, who campaigned for extending the franchise

Question 17

What organisation was formed in 1865 that also campaigned for political reform but had more of a working class membership?

Answer 17

Reform League

Question 18

What were 2 main differences between the Reform Union and the Reform League?

Answer 18

Middle-class v Working-class, tactics used, aims demanded, Reform Union had more money, Reform League had more widespread support

Question 19

Why might the government have become worried about social unrest between 1865-1866?

Answer 19

Poor harvest 1865 led to price of bread increase, economic crisis in 1866 with companies going bankrupt, high unemployment, cholera epidemic in London.

Question 20

What did supporters of political reform do on 23rd July 1866?

Answer 20

After the government banned a peaceful demonstration in Hyde Park the supporters, who believed that the government was acting illegally, broke through the railings and rioted.