William Pitt (the Younger) And Parliamentary Reform

Question 1

What is the background information on William Pitt?

Answer 1

-he used to critical of crown patronage and wanted to increase liberty, reduce the role of monarchy.

Question 2

Pitt proposed a new reform bill in 1785 whilst prime minister, what did it include?

Answer 2

-36 small rotten boroughs to be purchased with electors consent
-72 seats redistributed among county & city constituencies
-£1mill put aside to compensate borough owners who would lose political property and influence

Question 3

Why did Pitts commitment to reform look half-hearted?

Answer 3

He stemmed to favour reform but did not threaten to resign if proposals were defeated

Question 4

Why did some reformers dislike the idea of compensation to borough owners?

Answer 4

Merely supported the idea that wealth meant political influence

Question 5

What happened with Pitts 1785 proposals?

Answer 5

Defeated in commons
Pitt never attempted any parliamentary reform again

Question 6

What was Pitt and the repressive measures during the French Wars like?

Answer 6

-still PM during most of the french wars
-attitude towards reform change due to horrors of the French Revolution
-saw gov control and repression as necessary to preserve British constitution
-1793 Haebus Corpus suspended
-advocates of reform arrested