The Second Reform Act Flashcards
Long term pressures for reform - why had the issue of reform never completely gone away
- action from above
- Power from above proposed bills
- Russell - 1852,54,60
- Derby 1859
- Regardless of motivation there was an assertive pressure within a united govt
Long term pressures for reform - why had the issue of reform never completely gone away
-pressure from below
- Since the end of Chartism, 4 of 6 Charter points had been achieved, arguably a consequence of the moevment’s extra-parliamentary protest
- The electorate has increased by more than 60% since 1832 from inflation & higher wages
Long term pressures for reform - why had the issue of reform never completely gone away
-Out of date system
- Out of Date MP systems - reform was common sense to mitigate discrepancies, which could limit the effectiveness of govt, with suitable people unable to be MPs
The Property Qualification for MPs Act 1858
-attention?
- receives very little attention - as it maintained only the wealthy could serve as MPs, having little signifcance to the working classes
The Property Qualification for MPs Act 1858
-what caused it?
In 1711, property qualification was first introduced, restricting memebrship to the HofC
The Property Qualification for MPs Act 1858
-what catalysed it?
- Glover, an MP, was arrested after his qualification as an MP included fraud, failing to acknowledge his properties were heavily mortaged
- However, he was used as a scapegoat, receiving a lenient sentence, as over 1/2 MPs were expected to have done this
The Property Qualification for MPs Act 1858
-Why did the Liberals push it through?
- As property rights emerged as out of date & unnecessary,
- as it doesn’t impact how effectively they could do to the job,
- & if you can do the job without a salary, you don’t need property rights
Why did the Liberals propose the 1866 Reform Bill
-faith in reform
- Supportive of reform:
- 1832 reform act was succesfull & the Tories didn’t anticipate this
Why did the Liberals propose the 1866 Reform Bill
-intellectual changes
- New innovative ideas, which would create a new type of reform which shouldn’t alienate people
- e.g J.S Mill reform should be a moral ideal, with the rich accepting responsibilities to extractthe capacity of energy & virtue from society
Why did the Liberals propose the 1866 Reform Bill
-better working class rep
- Working class growing repsctability –> new organisations & American civil war - deserving
Why did the Liberals propose the 1866 Reform Bill
-political balance
- redress politcal balance, to reform borughs where support is strongest & they care about ‘urban opinion’
Why did the Liberals propose the 1866 Reform Bill
-political expedience
Bright felt artisanal voters would increase support for Liberal policies, e.g low tax & spending
What were the details of the Liberals proposals
- lower property value in boroughs & counties –> more votes
- new seats in borughhs & counties –> only 30% more in boroughs to ensure domination
- get rid of more small boroughs –> by joining or removing MPs
- 1 seat to London university –> atheist institution
The Liberal proposal would increase the working class voters from…
- From 1in 5 working class men
- to 1 in 4 working class men
- This would be smaller than the 1832 percentage increase
Of the 1 in 4 working men who would be able to vote from the Liberal Proposals 1866, who would be included in the wc receiving suffrage
- skilled, elite working class, such as artisans
Which 2 groups are the reason the 1866 Reform Bill fails
- Adullamites
- Conservatives
Why does the 1866 Reform Bill fail
-The Adullamites
- A group of aristocratic liberals don’t like this as they arescared of giving too many people the vote
Explain Robert Lowe, the figurehead of the Adullamites, argument against reform
- more votes would go to those more prone to corruption e.g bribery
- he carries enough Tory support with him to get majority