The Second Reform Act - 1867 Flashcards
How did 1867 further extend the franchise?
Boroughs - Men owning/occupying houses could now vote (if resident for 12 months). Also lodgers with property worth £10pa (resident for 12 months)
Counties - Men owning/leasing land worth £5pa could now vote
What further changes to representation did 1867 bring?
45 seats taken from the boroughs (with population <10,000
7 Seats taken from countries (corrupt ones)
25 Seats given to counties, Liverpool, Manchester etc. get a 3rd MP
What evidence is there of changes after 1867?
1 in 3 men could now vote (householder franchise)
Borough electorate grows by 134%, W/C dominate borough electorate for first time
county electorate grows 46%
Parties modernised greatly - More organised (e.g. National Liberal Foundation), began using local agents to recruit new members
Social reforms of 1870s caused by this wider electorate
What evidence is there of continuity following 1867?
Many still could not vote - e.g. those without 1 years’ residence, those on poor relief
County electorate remained largely M/C
Urban liberal voters prevented from voting in County elections
Over-representation continued, e.g. SW England compared to North (45 MPs compared to 32)
What evidence is there that 1867 was caused by pressure from within Government?
Liberals: Wanted to reform the boroughs, where their appeal is strongest, believed they had stagnated on reform. Lord Russell wanted a legacy
Conservatives: Party had been divided in 1846 - needed reform to unite them, believed 1832 benefitted liberals as it increased borough electorate. Disraeli gave himself only 14 days to come up with a reform bill, this created lots of confusion (e.g accepting Hodgkinson’s amendment which added 500,000 voters)
What evidence is there that 1867 was caused by popular pressure?
1850s and early 1860s were largely free of political agitation. More driven from within govt.
Population growth - had grown by 5 million by 1865, franchise still had not been extended to account for this increase
