Theme One Flashcards
How were counties represented in the franchise before 1832?
122 MPs represented county seats.
Anyone with a freehold of land worth 40 shillings could vote. This was often very few people, Herefordshire 4% could vote and in Middlesex, less than 1%.
How were boroughs represented in the franchise prior to 1832?
These were towns granted the right to have MPs. Unlike county seats, there was no standard set of rules and different constituencies had different qualifications to vote.
What was the significance of the arrangement prior to 1832?
It ensured that there was no real way for those of lower wealth and social standing to be represented.
The elections were also highly influenced by those with wealth and social standing.
Prior to 1832, elections were never held in more than 40% of constituencies.
The HoL could veto anything that went through the HoC
What were the reasons for demands for change before 1832?
Growing middle class who did not enjoy any political power.
The industrial revolution, increase in population - 27m by 1851.
New revolutionary ideas about equality, the work of Thomas Paine.
More access to media through liberal newspapers like Cobbett’s Political register and the Hampden Clubs.
What were the main arguments to avoid change?
Opposition from the Tory Party. Sir Robert Peel believed that the act would not be the end of the matter as the Whigs claimed.
The concern that the landed elite would be pushed aside by the interests of the growing middle and working classes.
What were the pressures to pass the 1832 Great Reform Act?
The Tory government split between moderate and ultras. This damaged their ability to oppose reform.
Growth of political unions, such as the BPU who led a march of 100,000 when the second bill was rejected.
Whig determination - persuaded the king that reform would resolve tensions. When the Lords rejected the bill, the Whigs resigned leading to an unpopular tory gov and the King was forced to accept reform.
What did the 1832 Reform Act do?
In boroughs, adult males who had owned or occupied a property, rated at £10, could vote.
In counties, property worth £2 or renting land worth £50 could vote.
56 rotten/pocket boroughs were disenfranchised, in total 145 borough seats were abolished.
22 new two member boroughs created, 14 - London and 8 - new industrial cities.
What were the positive impacts of the 1832 Great reform act?
Worst rotten and pocket boroughs go and underrepresented boroughs gain.
Key significance is that it was an opening for future reform. Tory fears that 1832 GRA would inevitably open the door for further reform proved accurate.
What were the negative impacts of the 1832 Reform Act?
Franchise still restricted to property owners.
Landed elite still dominate political life. Strengthens aristocratic control of counties with Chandos Clause and successfully unites middle class property owners with upper class. Majority of MC support gov against chartists.
No secret ballot.
What was the intent of the 1832 reform act?
To prevent revolution
Secure aristocratic control
Whig principle and party interest
What did the 1867 reform act do?
In boroughs, adult males owning or occupying houses could now vote if they had been resident for a year.
In counties, males owning or leasing land worth £5.
45 seats taken from boroughs with less than 10,000
25 seats given to counties
Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester get a third MP
What were the positive impacts of the 1867 reform act?
Electorate much larger (1/3 adult males). Biggest increase seen in boroughs where WC were majority voters after 1867.
Household suffrage in boroughs - lots of wc voters, skilled artisans - too big to be influenced by aristocracy so parties need to develop their organisation.
Start to change social composition.
What were the negative impacts of the 1867 reform act?
Still uneven representation as plural voting continued.
Very slow start to change in social comp - more middle class but slow
What was the intent of the 1867 reform act?
Driven by party interests - Conservatives a minority gov keen to exploit divisions in the Liberal party and gain credit for succeeding reform where Gladstone had failed.
As minority party, Disraeli agrees to accept amendments from radicals but not Gladstone.
Confusion and uncertainty
What did the Secret Ballot Act 1972 and the Corrupt practices act 1883 do?
Secret Ballot Act - Voting in secret, priv ballot.
CPA - set a limit on expenditure and prohibited treating and bribery.
It required expenditure to be accounted for and introduced penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, and expulsion from the HoC.
