Breadth 1 Flashcards
(31 cards)
What was the role of the King in 1780?
The King held significant power, including the ability to appoint ministers, dissolve Parliament, and influence policy and legislation.
Describe the political system in 1780
The political system was a constitutional monarchy with a Parliament divided into the House of Lords and the House of Commons, heavily influenced by aristocracy and wealth.
Who were the aristocracy?
The aristocracy were the hereditary nobility who owned large amounts of land and held significant political power, often sitting in the House of Lords.
Describe the House of Lords and their role
The House of Lords was made up of bishops and hereditary peers who reviewed, amended, and approved legislation passed by the House of Commons.
Describe the House of Commons and its role.
The House of Commons consisted of elected MPs who proposed and debated legislation and represented constituencies across the country.
Who were the two political parties that emerged in the 1780s
The Whigs and the Tories.
Who were the Whigs and what did they stand for?
The Whigs generally supported constitutional monarchism, reform, and the interests of the commercial and middle classes.
Who were the Tories and what did they stand for?
The Tories supported the monarchy, the Church of England, and the interests of the landed aristocracy.
How did the French revolution impact reform in Britain?
It caused fear among the British ruling class of a similar uprising, leading to resistance against reform and repression of radical ideas.
How many MPs were there in 1780?
558 MPs.
What were constituencies?
Geographical areas that elected MPs to represent them in the House of Commons.
How were constituencies in 1780 different to today?
They were uneven in size and population, with some areas overrepresented (rotten boroughs) and others underrepresented.
What were the two types of constituencies?
County constituencies and borough constituencies.
How many county seats were there in 1780?
Approximately 92 county seats.
How many Borough seats were there in 1780?
Around 436 borough seats.
What were the problems with the unreformed political system?
It was corrupt, unrepresentative, and dominated by aristocratic influence and rotten boroughs.
How many Mps were elected for Cornwall in 1780?
44 MPs, which was disproportionate for its population.
How many MPs were elected for Manchester in 1780?
None; Manchester had no representation until after the Reform Act of 1832.
Who was able to vote in 1780?
Only men who met certain property qualifications, roughly 3-6% of the adult population.
What were the 5 main types of voting qualification in 1780?
40-shilling freeholders, freemen, scot and lot payers, potwallopers, and burgage holders.
What was a scot and lot borough?
A borough where voting rights were based on paying local taxes (scot and lot).
What was a Potwalloper borough?
A borough where any man with his own fireplace (used to boil a pot) could vote.
What was a Burgage Borough?
A borough where voting rights were tied to specific properties (burgages).
What was a corporation borough?
A borough where the town corporation (often very small and self-selecting) controlled voting rights.
