Second Reform Act 1867

Question 1

What is some background content before the second reform act?

Answer 1

Reform back in agenda in 1860s as:
-safe to entrance some w-c
-economic boom of 1840-50s
-giving ‘respectable’ w-c vote prevent them being radical

Question 2

How was the act passed 1866 part 1?

Answer 2

-march 1866 Gladstone proposed bill, 300,000 would be added to electorate
-libs argued and split
-lib PM Lord Russell resigned and Con Earl of Derby became PM
-1866 Hyde Park riots

Question 3

How was the act passed part 2 1867?

Answer 3

-march 1867 con Bill proposed by Disraeli, added respectable w-c and increase vote of grads/professionals
-bill amended many times in parliament
-cons passed more radical Bill than libs which they voted against in 1866

Question 4

What were the terms and features of the Act?

Answer 4

Boroughs: votes given to householders/lodgers paying £10 and resident for 1+ year
-45 seats taken form small boroughs
-20 new boroughs created
-7 boroughs disenfranchised

Counties: more landowners/tenant farmers added
25 new county sears

Question 5

What was the impact of this Reform Act

Answer 5

-estimate of 400k-1,120,000 men added to franchise
-brought electorate mostly w-c
-1st time British electorate mostly w-c
-both parties became more organised