7. power- parliament and the people 1800-1918 Flashcards
(43 cards)
What was the political system like in 1800?
The political system was not very representative in 1800.
How did the number of voters vary in constituencies?
The numbers of voters in constituencies varied; in some larger towns or cities, a great number of voters would only return one MP.
What were ‘rotten boroughs’?
Some constituencies were known as ‘rotten boroughs’ - these were constituencies that could have had as few as one or two voters.
Which universities returned MPs, and why was this considered outdated?
Oxford and Cambridge universities returned two MPs each - this was an outdated law.
What was the issue with voting in 1800?
There was no secret ballot, meaning people had to vote in public, which encouraged corruption.
How did candidates attempt to secure votes?
Some candidates would offer to pay bribes in return for votes; others would host parties the night before an election to win support.
What global events led to scrutiny of the British political system?
Two revolutions in the wider world led to further scrutiny:
- in 1776, Britain’s American colonies declared their independence from Britain
- in 1789 the French Revolution scared lots of British aristocrats- they thought a similar type of revolution might happen in Britain
What was the impact of Thomas Paine’s book ‘The Rights of Man’?
Thomas Paine’s book argued that the British political system was corrupt - 200,000 copies sold before it was banned.
Did the Great Reform Act bring political change?
The Great Reform Act brought some political changes.
What did the Great Reform Act of 1832 accomplish?
The Great Reform Act 1832 extended the franchise but the changed largely favoured middle-class voters.
How did the Great Reform Act 1832 affect the right to vote?
The franchise was extended, allowing one in seven English males to vote after the Act.
What changes were made to the distribution of seats in Parliament after the Great Reform Act?
The same number of seats (658) was retained, but
- 56 boroughs with less than 2000 voters were disenfranchised- meaning they no longer had the right to return an MP
- 31 small boroughs lost 1 of their 2 MPs
- 22 new two-member boroughs were created for example Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham
What was the reaction of working-class activists to the Great Reform Act?
Some felt betrayed as the Act did not bring wholesale political change and although the electorate had increased, corruption still existed.
What was the uniform property qualification?
There was a uniform property qualification of £10 in boroughs which meant you had to be paying £10 in rates to be able to vote.
What did the Great Reform Act lead to the rise of?
it led to the rise of Chartism which was a political movement with 6 demands:
- universal suffrage
- payment for MPs
- no property qualifications to become an MP
- annual Parliaments
- secret ballot
- equal representation
What led to the Second (1867) and Third (1884) Reform Acts?
activists such as the Liberal Party continued to put pressure on the Political system
What was the outcome of the Second Reform Act (1867)?
The Second Reform Act doubled the electorate to 40 percent of the male population with a uniform property qualification of £10.
Who could vote after the Second Reform Act?
All male urban householders and lodgers (mostly working class) paying £10 rent a year could vote.
What was the significance of the Third Reform Act 1884?
The Third Reform Act added 2.6 million voters, increasing the electorate from 3.1 million to 5.7 million and qualifications to vote were the same in all constituencies.
When was the Secret Ballot Act made law?
After campaigning, The Secret Ballot Act was made law in 1872.
What did trade unions and the Labour Party want?
Further political reform.
What percentage of men and women did not have the right to vote after the Third Reform Act?
40 per cent of men and 100 per cent of women.
When did New Unions emerge?
In the 1870s and 1880s- they aimed to protect workers rights.
When was the Trades Union Congress (TUC) formed?
In 1868 and almost all trade unions (workers who group together to protect their rights) were affiliated to this by the 1890s
