Unit 1: How signifcant were changes in the distribution of seats in the years 1780-1918? Flashcards
What were Pitt’s proposals to make the system more representative?
In 1782 he proposed the creation of a committee to address issues concerning parliamentary representation- this was defeated.
In may 1783, he proposed to disfranchise some corrupt boroughs and transfer their seats to the counties and London but give the borough owners compensation for their loss.
It failed because Fox, Pitt’s chief opponent in the House of Commons, refused to accept Pitt’s suggestion of making £1 million available for compensation- defeated by 248 votes to 174.
What were the issues with representation?
There was no standardisation of the size and type of constituency. e.g.Counties had two MPs regardless of the population or its economic importance.
There were significantly over-represented places e.g. Old Sarum with seven voters = rotten boroughs. Only 43 of the 202 parliamentary boroughs in 1830 had populations of over 1000. On the other hand, the newer, major industrial cities like Manchester (1830 population of 144,000) and Birmingham (1830 population of 182,000) had no representation in parliament.
As a result, there was a geographical imbalance to the distribution of seats.
What were the reasons the Representation of the People Act 1832 was needed regarding distribution of seats?
33 English towns had a population of over 10,000 but no MP.
27 English boroughs had had no contested elections in the previous 30 years.
What were the key changes in the Representation of the People Act 1832 regarding distribution of seats?
56 boroughs with a population below 2000 lost both of their parliamentary seats.
30 boroughs of between 2000 and 4000 people lost one MP.
44 new borough seats were created, with many of them going to new industrial towns in the Midlands and North.
A limit was placed on the size of borough electorates to reduce overly disproportionate influence of very small constituencies.
What was the impact the Representation of the People Act 1832 had on the distribution of seats?
Parliamentary representation was extended to large metropolitan areas like Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, that played a major economic role. -but still lacked representation.
The counties gained additional seats to reflect their expanded populations as well. This made representation more balanced between rural and urban areas.
Rural constituencies stayed smaller than urban ones on average due to an urban-rural compromise. This benefited rural interests.
What were the reasons the Representation of the People Act 1867 was needed regarding distribution of seats?
There was an imbalance in the distribution of seats eg 334 borough MPs represented 9.5 million whereas 162 county MPs represented 11.5 million.
Organisations such as the Reform League campaigned for universal suffrage.
Disraeli wanted to prevent extending the vote to the working class as it would weaken the conservatives.
What were the key changes in the Representation of the People Act 1867 regarding distribution of seats?
Boroughs with a population below 10,000 lost one or both of their MPs.
11 new constituencies were created and the number of MPs for industrial cities increased eg Birmingham increased to 3.
English and Welsh counties were allocated 25 MPs.
Scotland was given 5 more seats and 3 new university seats were created.
What was the impact the Representation of the People Act 1867 had on the distribution of seats?
Although the additional 25 seats for counties strengthened landed interests, the creation of new boroughs provided more support for liberals, therefore county voting challenged nobility and landowner power- supported by conservatives, who lost 8 seats.
What were the reasons the Ballot Act 1872 was needed regarding distribution of seats?
1868 general election after Representation of the People Act 1867 consisted of widespread corruption and intimidation in which Gladstone’s Liberal party proposed to tackle after securing majority.
What were the key changes in the Ballot Act 1872 regarding distribution of seats?
Introduction of the secret ballot to reduce bribery and intimidation.
What was the impact the Ballot Act 1872 had on the distribution of seats?
People were more comfortable expressing their true preferences when voting leading to more accurate representation of public opinion.
Reduced the influence of powerful individuals and groups who could manipulate the voting process.
Political parties became more responsive to the needs of their constituents.
What were the reasons the Corrupt Practices Act 1883 was needed regarding distribution of seats?
Many MPs were scandalised by the widespread bribery and corruption that had taken place during the 1880 election.
Candidates spent large sums of money to secure votes in the growing electorate.
Sudbury disfranchised for large scale corruption in 1844.
What were the key changes in the Corrupt Practices Act 1883 regarding distribution of seats?
Established spending limits on campaign expenses.
In England and Wales the limit was £710 for the first 2000 voters and £40 for additional 1000 voters.
Candidates had to keep records of expenditure.
What was the impact the Corrupt Practices Act 1883 had on the distribution of seats?
By establishing legal consequences it restored public trust in the electorate.
Candidates had to rely more on their politics and ideas to win elections.
Political system was more accountable.
What were the reasons the Redistribution Act 1885 was needed regarding distribution of seats?
Development of the suburbs- areas outside city centres where middle class factory owners settled, largely conservative voters but voting wasn’t enough to dent liberal majority because votes were within their counties or borough boundaries.
