political reform

Question 1

what was the conservatives motivation for expanding the franchise

Answer 1

• political advantage - Disraeli aimed to transform the conservative party into one which was more pro reform in order to capitalise on divided Liberal party e.g. failed 1866 reform bill
• pressure from urbanisation e.g. growing towns and cities made existing representation outdated and the Conservatives had to respond to changing demographics.

Question 2

what was the liberals motivation for expanding the franchise

Answer 2

• belief in progress in meritocracy e.g. many liberals felt responsible, educated working class men should have the vote.
• moral and ideological commitment
• growing pressure e.g. from the reform league
• desire to consolidate political support e.g. expanding franchise as to gain loyal liberal voters.

Question 3

shared motivations of both parties to expand the franchise

Answer 3

• need to respond to societal change
• fear of revolution

Question 4

what were the terms of the 1867 reform bill for those who lived in counties

Answer 4

• leaseholders paying £5 a year
• property holders who had a taxable value of £12 a year.

Question 5

what were the terms of the 1867 reform bill for those who lived in boroughs

Answer 5

• Householders and lodgers who paid £10 a year in rent.

Question 6

brief overview of the 1867 reform bill

Answer 6

• passed by the conservatives under Disraeli.
• expanded the franchise from around 1.2 million to 2 million.

Question 7

limitations of 1867 reform bill

Answer 7

• women still excluded completely from vote
• Many who were eligible to vote were put off as it was difficult to prove eligibility as it required lots of paperwork.
• despite doubling the electorate, it only enfranchised some skilled working class men (mainly in boroughs)
• no secret ballots
• some plural voting still existed.
• some rotten boroughs remained.
• use of gerrymandering

Question 8

Ballot Act

Answer 8

• 1872
• introduced by the liberals
• introduced secret ballots in elections, prior to this voting was done publicly which often led to bribery, intimidation and. corruption especially by landlords who could watch how people voted.
• the act aimed to make elections freer and fairer.
• it was a major step in the modernisatioin of the British political system, and paved the way for further reform e.g. 1883 illegal and corrupt practices act

Question 9

Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act

Answer 9

• 1883
• passed by the liberals
• the act aimed to tackle widespread electoral corruption e.g. Bribery, and excessive spending, the act made such practices illegal, with strict penalties.
• the law helped reduce corruption and was a key step towards a more representative and democratic political system.

Question 10

1884 reform Bill

Answer 10

• passed by the liberals and extended the franchise, particularly to those in rural areas.
• the act gave the vote to all male lodgers paying £10 a year in rent, bringing rural areas in line with boroughs.
• increased the electorate by around 2.5 million
• a major step toward full democracy.

Question 11

what happened to the 1866 reform bill

Answer 11

• the act proposed by lord John Russell and Gladstone (chancellor) aimed to extend the franchise particularly to more of the working urban class in boroughs.
• However, the act failed to pass through parliament as opposition came from within the liberal party (whigs) who voted against the bill, splitting the party.