What was the most significant cause of the 1832 reform act Flashcards
What four factors need to be discussed?
- Unreformed political system
- Growth and demands of middle classes
- Economic unrest and riots
- Actions of tories and whigs
How many boroughs had fewer than 40 voters?
50
How many MPs per borough?
2
What was Lancashire’s population?
1.3 million
How many MPs did Lancashire have?
14 MPs
What was Cornwall’s population?
300 000
How many MPs did Cornwall have?
42
What would be the judgement for the unreformed political system?
It could be considered the this fairly archaic system was the most important cause, as there was gross misrepresentation as well as distinct geographical misrepresentation. However Britain currently had the largest empire and the biggest economy in the world, achieved under this system, benefitting those in power most, suggesting that this may not be as significant as unrest and middle classes.
What were increased to reduce the national debt but lead to economic unrest?
Taxes
When did Napoleon blockade the UK?
1806
When were the corn laws introduced?
1815
What did the 1815 Corn Laws do?
wheat could not be imported until the prices reached 10s/ bushel. This forced prices up.
What is the impact of the Corn Laws?
As wheat was used for beer, used instead of water, this caused an increased degree of political awareness in the working masses, as the price of their food and drink was rising, leading to unrest which helped to cause the 1832 reform act. It seemed that the government were looking after their own kind, the people who owned the land from which the corn was grown and sold.
When was Habeas Corpus suspended?
1817
When were the Spa Field Riots?
1817
What happened at the 1817 Spa Field Riots?
A crowd attacked the Prince Regent’s coach in the Spa Field Riots at the opening of Parliament.
When was Peterloo?
1819
How many killed in Peterloo 1819?
11
Who was speaking at Peterloo?
Henry Hunt, a wealthy landowner but prominent reformist
How many wounded at Peterloo?
400-600 wounded
When were the swing riots?
1830
Where did the swing riots break out?
Kent
How many counties did the swing riots spread to?
20
Who were in the London Corresponding society
skilled artisans and tradesmen in addition to booksellers, printers and authors
When was the London Corresponding society founded?
1792
Who founded the London Corresponding Society?
Thomas Hardy
How much didi the London Corresponding Society cost a week to join?
1 penny
What did many of the commercial middle classes hate?
The aristocratic nepotism of the government
Why did the middle classes believe that they should be allowed to vote?
They had generated immense wealth for the country and paid significant taxes.
When was the BPU set up?
1830
Who set up the Birmingham Political Union in 1830?
Thomas Attwood
What was the BPU?
A political union between the lower AND middler classes
How many people would the BPU attract at rallies?
100 000
How many people did the BPU attract at rallies during the ‘days of may’?
200 000
What about Lord Liverpool’s administration caused resentment from the workers?
self-interested individualist economic politics and their heavy handed approach to workers’ protests
Who resigned in 1827 after 15 years of stable government?
Lord Liverpool
Who replaced Lord Liverpool in 1828?
Duke of Wellington
Who split the tory Party?
Duke of Wellington
Which king invited Earl Grey to form a new government in November 1830?
William IV
Who did Earl Grey want to give the franchise to?
“Men of Property”
Who did Earl Grey win support form?
Both the Canningites and the ultras
In the old system, how many had the rights to vote?
366 000
What was a rotten borough?
Ancient constituencies that had become so depopulated since the royal charter where MPs were elected by a very small number of people. Old Sarum in Wiltshire had just one landowner and no inhabitants, but returned 2 MPs.
What was a pocket borough?
Wealthy land owners owned all the land and buildings which provided the occupiers with the right to vote. The landowners then nominated candidates and bribed or pressurised voters into voting for their favoured candidate.
What was a scot and lot borough?
All men could vote if they paid local taxes such as the poor rate, such as Preston in Lancashire.
What was a potwalloper borough?
Men qualified to vote if they occupied a house which had a fireplace large enough to boil a pot in, such as Taunton in Somerset.