The political and electoral system in the 1780s

Question 1

role of the king and aristocracy

Answer 1

• king could appoint and dismiss PM
• gov and parliament dominated by landowning class
• aristocracy held positions in church, armed services, judiciary and local gov

Question 2

the tories

Answer 2

• keen to defend power of monarch and church of England
• nearly all came from landowning backgrounds
• tories more protective of priviliges
• more resistant to change and fearful of ideas of French rev

Question 3

the whigs

Answer 3

• increasing number of whigs came from industrial or commerical backgrounds
• more sympathetic to, and had support from non-conformists
• began to demand reform of parliament in late 1820s

Question 4

who could vote in the counties

Answer 4

• all men who owned freehold property worth 40 shillings a year

Question 5

scot and lot borough

Answer 5

• all adult males who paid ‘scot and lot’ taxes
• i.e poor relief

Question 6

potwalloper borough

Answer 6

• granted ability to vote if you could boil water in your place of residence

Question 7

corporation borough

Answer 7

• only members of the local town council could vote

Question 8

pocket borough

Answer 8

• one MP holds great influence over the borough
• 2 MPs ‘in their pocket’

Question 9

rotten borough

Answer 9

• a borough with few or no constituents
• Old Sarum sent 2 MPs with 7 voters

Question 10

how many people could vote in c1780

Answer 10

• less than half a million men
• <5% population

Question 11

describe some features of 18 century elections

Answer 11

• lasted several days
• no secret ballot
• bribed elections
• carnival like atmosphere

Question 12

support for the old system

Answer 12

• argument of virtual representation - all interests represented despite not all men having vote
• respect for tradition and social hierarchy