Parliamentary Reform - What was the situation in the 1780s?

Question 1

How many people could vote in 1780?

Answer 1

• 214,000 out of 8 million in England
• 4,500 out of 2 million in Scotland

Question 2

What was the property qualification to vote in 1780 in the counties?

Answer 2

All men who owned property worth 40 shillings per year or more could vote

Question 3

Who could vote in the boroughs?

Answer 3

No set rules in the boroughs with lots of different rule sets depending on the constituency EG burgage boroughs where only people who owned certain specific pieces of land could vote

Question 4

What was 18th century society’s attitude towards the voting system?

Answer 4

18th century society broadly content with a voting system that represented national interests such as agriculture, trade, banking, and the interests of geographical areas

Question 5

Extent of political competition in the 1784 election?

Answer 5

Election of 1784 only saw 72 contests for parliamentary seats