Reform And Challenge 1851-1886- Political And Social Flashcards
(184 cards)
1874 election- votes vs seats
Liberals 52% and tory 44% vote
Liberals 242 seats/37% seatS
TORY 54% seat/350
Colourable employment
Giving people ficticous or nominal jobs as a cover for paying them to vote for a particular candidate
Treating
Giving or offering food and drink in order to influence how poeple vote
Bagehot quote against parliamentary reform
-liberal political journalist
‘The masses are infinitely too ignorant to make much of gvernment themselves and they do not know their mind when they see it’
Influence of charles darwin in arguments against parliamentary reform
Hereditary genius 1869
-argued that intelligence was inherited
-showed through familu trees of britains notable families (including his own)
-therefore ‘great’ aristocratic families were ‘fitest torun the gov
Good example of social mobility at this time
In Peel family
Moved from yeomen famre to baronet (as leading industrialist) to PM in three generations
Example of poor distribution of seats after 1932 reform act
10 counties in south
Combined opp of 3.3 mill had 156 sears
Whilst middlesex, lancashire, west yorkshire has 3.7 mill but only 58 serass
Borough seats vs votes
62% seats with only 43% voters
Repeal
Removal of a law
Free trade
Low or no tarrifs on foreign imports
Allow for competition
Monarch in 1851
-had soveriegn power
-influenced elections
-could appoint and dismiss mnisters
-summoned parliament to meet
-not involved in day to day business of governing the country
Example of abuse of power by mocnarch
1839- bedchamber crisis
-where queen vic tried to keep earl of melbourne even though peel had been elected
Landowning classes
Made up of aristocarcy and landed gentry
Aristocracy
-made up of approx 200 wealthiest families
-had titles
-mansions and may have house in london
So had 2 votes
-leadership in politial matters
-set standards in taste and manners
Which were copied by lower classes
Landed gentry
-made up of approx 13000 families
-had a leisured way of life
-many MPs or Jps
But werent payed until 1911
Middle class 1851
-0growing in number
-many gained walth from industry
Factory owners ,lawyers, doctors
-Educated
-Free trade and minimal gov interference
-attempted to move up socialclasses
Through benefiting land or marrying
-many nonconformistts
Working class 1851
-atisans (skilled workers) to unskilled worers
-manual labour
-long hours, low pau
-unemployment and distress during trade depression
-poor harvests
High bread prices
-industrial action
Trade unions
Church
-established church
Anglican cofe
-monarch is the head of state
-strong in rural richer areas
-clergy- get money from tithes- 10%
-seating in church reflect social heirachy
Non conformist
Eg. Methodists
-growth
-life after death better
Appealed to the working classes
House of lords 1851
-aristocracy
-inherited position
-power to veto laws passed in house of commons
House of commons 1851
-allow aristocracy
-had to be a land owner
600 pounds/year income county, 300 in boroughs
-elected chamber
But onl 8% pop could vote
-passed laws
Constituencies 1851
Little even distribution of seats and pop
-north under-represented
South over
Example south and north representation
Some ‘rotten boroughs’ has 2 mps
Whilst manchester, birmingham and leeds had only 1 each
franchise
Who could vote