UNIT 1-Lesson 2: Why was there a growing demand and support for Parliamentary Reform?

Question 1

Patronage

Answer 1

Practice of appointing people to government positions in order to secure their political support

Question 1

War of American Independence.

Answer 1

1776-83: Ended with Britain recognising the independence of the colonies which became the USA

Question 2

Disenfranchise

Answer 2

Deny the right to a seat in Parliament

Question 3

Bill

Answer 3

Proposal for a new law which, if passed, becomes an Act of Parliament

Question 4

Manhood Suffrage

Answer 4

Right to vote for all adult men

Question 5

Political unions

Answer 5

Popular organisations created to campaign for reform of Parliament

Question 6

Act of Catholic Emancipation

Answer 6

Act of Parliament allowing Roman Catholics the right to become MPs or to hold other public office

Question 7

BPU

Answer 7

Birmingham Political Union

Question 8

Birmingham Political Union (BPU)

Answer 8

Formed 1830 by Thomas Attwood (banker from Birmingham) to campaign for Parliamentary reform

Question 9

Whose support did the BPU attract?

Answer 9

Middle and working class

Question 10

Attwood did not believe in universal suffrage.
True or false?

Answer 10

True

Question 11

‘Out of doors’

Answer 11

Political activity beyond Parliament, for example, agitation ‘out of doors’ meant agitation in the country as a whole

Question 12

Universal suffrage

Answer 12

Vote for all people.
In practice, at this time, meant for all men (manhood suffrage).

Question 13

By what year was there growing calls for parliamentary reform?

Answer 13

1780

Question 14

Why was there criticisms about the War of American Independence?

Answer 14

Criticism about the way it was being conducted

Question 15

With the support of the press, what did some MPs attack the government for?

Answer 15

Raising higher taxes and increasing government expenditure

Question 16

What did some MPs claim the King was doing?

Answer 16

Was imposing policies on his ministers and using patronage to achieve majority support in Parliament

Question 17

What was evidence of the King’s patronage?

Answer 17

Increasing number of contract which the government granted (e.g., military supplies for war) which had gone to MPs’ relatives or friends, thus winning more support for the government in Parliament.

Question 18

What was the government accused of being?

Answer 18

Very corrupt and inefficient