parliamentary reform Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the focus of parliamentary reform?
Assessment of changes to the franchise and to representation
It demonstrates the implementation of political liberalism, albeit distorted by party politics.
Who gained the vote with the first reform act of 1832?
The middle classes
Workers and all women remained excluded from the franchise in 1851.
What was a significant issue regarding representation in rural areas?
Over-representation by MPs
The declining rural population did not justify so many MPs, especially with growing urban populations.
Which political party benefitted from the over-representation of rural areas?
The Tories
Rural areas were more deferential and subject to pressure from landlords.
What did the second reform act of 1867 accomplish?
Extended the vote to all male urban householders
It only partially reformed the over-representation of rural areas.
What was the outcome of the third reform act?
Extended the vote to rural householders
It involved the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, which ended the over-representation of rural areas.
What remained unchanged after the third reform act?
Women remained without the vote; plural voting persisted
A voter could have more than one vote as they owned properties.
What context surrounded the second reform act?
Parliament had tried to reform the system unsuccessfully 4 times in the 1850s
The US civil war and Italian unification increased public interest in democracy.
Who argued for the self-help and responsibility of skilled workers?
Gladstone
He believed this allowed them to enter the ‘pale [boundary] of the constitution’.
What was Disraeli’s political strategy regarding the Liberal government?
He wanted to replace a Liberal government with a Conservative one
This was motivated by frustration with a short-lived minority Conservative government.
What did Gladstone and Russell propose in their 1866 bill?
A modest increase to the franchise (£7 householders)
This proposal failed due to opposition from Conservative and anti-reform Liberal MPs.
What happened after the Liberal government resigned?
A minority Conservative government led by Derby and Disraeli took over
They introduced a reform bill, but it was too modest to attract pro-reform Liberal support.
What event followed a demonstration by the Reform League in 1867?
The Hyde Park riots broke out
This was due to anger over the seeming end of reform efforts.
What significant change occurred with Disraeli’s 1867 reform bill?
The vote was extended to all urban householders
Parliamentary amendments further increased the number of new voters.
What was the impact of the Secret Ballot Act 1872?
It regulated elections and undermined corruption or bribery
This was opposed by Gladstone but accepted to avert division in the parliamentary Liberal party.
What did Gladstone propose in 1884 regarding urban and rural householders?
Closing the illogical distinction between them
This proposal was blocked by the Lords fearing a loss of Conservative MPs.
What was the purpose of the redistribution of seats bill?
To create smaller constituencies and resolve urban-rural distribution of seats
This compensated Tories for the loss of rural MPs and created W/C constituencies.
