The political system in 1783

Question 1

How was the King influential in parliament?

Answer 1

He mostly had power through patronage, which meant that he would pay certain MP’s to vote a certain way or give them positions to increase their wealth, making them more loyal to him and go with policies that suited the king

Question 2

How represented was the different countries in Britain

Answer 2

England was overrepresented with 489 MPs, Scotland and Wales was underrepresented with only 45 MPs for Scotland and 24 MPs for Wales.

Question 3

What are rotten boroughs?

Answer 3

Boroughs that were important before the Industrial revolution and now have a few residents but still send 2 MPs to Parliament.

Question 4

Why were certain populations in Britain under or over represented?

Answer 4

Industrial towns were under represented because they weren’t important before the Industrial revolution so they could only vote in the county elections. Rotten boroughs were over represented because they didn’t have the general population in mind, like the industrial classes, and they only wanted to benefit themselves.

Question 5

How many people could vote in England?

Answer 5

Around 11%

Question 6

What was needed to be able to vote in counties in England ?

Answer 6

Anyone who help a ‘freehold’ land with a rental value of at least 40 shillings annually (£2 today) could vote

Question 7

What was needed to be able to vote in counties in Scotland ?

Answer 7

Anyone who help a ‘freehold’ land with a rental value of at leat 40 shillings annually (£100 today) could vote

Question 8

What were ‘pot walloper’ boroughs?

Answer 8

Anyone with a pot and fire could vote

Question 9

What were ‘scot and lot’ boroughs?

Answer 9

Anyone who paid poor rates could vote

Question 10

What were co-orperation boroughs?

Answer 10

Anyone how was on the council could vote

Question 11

How many elections usually were competed for?

Answer 11

30%

Question 12

Are county or borough elections more accurate on how the population believes?

Answer 12

County because more people voted in them

Question 13

How many boroughs had less than 300 votes

Answer 13

around 1/2

Question 14

Who usually voted in borough elections?

Answer 14

Farmers, clergymen, lawyers, tradesmen and businessmen

Question 15

What were ways voters were bribed?

Answer 15

Voters who went to another town had their accommodations and travel paid for them
Voters food and drink were paid for
People would be evicted if they didn’t vote a certain way
Crows were thrown at people who didn’t vote a certain way

Question 16

What groups were banned from voting?

Answer 16

Women, Catholics, Jews and Quaker

Question 17

What were the rules to be an MP?

Answer 17

Owning more than £300 in property in a county and £600 in property in a borough

Question 18

What were Lord Lieutenants?

Answer 18

Assigned posts to subordinate offices
Head of local militia(trained forces) and could call on the to stop a riot
Usually had a lot of political influence and money
Often didn’t live in their area

Question 19

What were Justices of Peace?

Answer 19

Leaders of the local community
Issued alehouse licences
Supervised the workings of the Poor Law
Judged petty and serious crimes
Fixed local minimum wage
Helped build new structures

Question 20

What was the main religion at the time?

Answer 20

Church of England

Question 21

Why was the political system corrupt?

Answer 21

Patronage/sponsering was important
Unequal distribution of people to MPs
Differences in voting laws and application
Open ballot, easier to intimidate opposition
Poor weren’t represented
Industrial areas weren’t represented
Not many could vote
Bribery and intimidation were normal
Laws more likely to help traditional not industrial jobs
Laws more likely to help rich not poor