Reform+Act+of+1832

The Reform Act of 1832 [|Helpful link about reform act]

__**//Why was there need to Reform ?//**__
Voting was not seen as a universal right but as a **privilege for the wealthiest class of society.** **Before 1832** the right to vote depended on three things:


 * 1) ==== **Gender.** (//Only men over the age of 21 were allowed to vote).//====
 * 2) ==== **Property.** (//In order to vote, an individual had to own property over a certain value.)//====
 * 3) ==== **Location.** (//Small rural boroughs were able to elect **more** MPs than much larger towns and counties.)//====

The idea that **all adults should have the right to vote had little support in Parliament**, which was dominated by the aristocratic landowners. Only **5% of the population were qualified to vote**.
__**//Constituencies//**__ There were two types of constituency, **borough's** and **counties.** The electoral system had remained unchanged for two centuries. Towns that were small then may have grown due to the industrial revolution leaving only a few MP's to represent the masses. This 'system' was easily corrupted and was only influenced by the **wealthy land owning elite**. Historians estimate that **under 5% of the total population** were qualified to vote. Pro-Reform MP's saw this as a main reason why the reform act had to be passed.

__**Different Types of Boroughs**__
 * Rotten Boroughs-** Very old constituencies which had become depopulated meaning that MP's were selected and elected by a very small number of people. E.g. Old Sarum


 * Pocket Boroughs-** When a wealthy individual owned all or most of the land in the constituency allowing the individual to use his power to pressurise voters in to voting for the candidate he favoured.


 * Scot and Lot-** All men who paid local taxes could vote.


 * Potwalloper-** The most bizarre type of constituency, men who occupied to a house with a fireplace large enough to boil a pot were qualified to vote.


 * Corporations-** Only members of the town council (known as the corporation) could vote.


 * Freeman-** All men who had qualified the title of 'freeman' through apprenticeship in a craft guild were qualified to vote.

__**//When did the need for Change emerge ?//**__ The **French Revolution of 1789** had caused an explosion of interest in ideas of democratic government across Europe. These ideas inspired **many groups within Britain to demand a more open and genuine democracy within their own country.**.In any case, **Britain itself was changing more rapidly than at any time in its history**. Its **population was growing fast**, and the lives of the people were changing as quickly. The **agricultural and industrial revolutions** changed the ways in which they worked, both in the countryside and in the huge towns and cities. They gained in some ways - more food, better clothing, more goods to buy. But they also suffered greatly in the filthy slums of the cities and in harsh treatment in factory work. **The concentration of people in the towns and cities meant there was more chance of new political ideas spreading**, especially with the railways and the development of national newspapers. All of these changes led r**eformers to argue that the British Parliament no longer represented the country properl**y. It was out of date and had to change, or be forced to do so.

__//**Who was putting pressure on the Government for reform act of 1832?**//__

 * ====// **Trade Unions** -(Increase in Union activity created more pressure on goverment, saw threat of revolution)  //====
 * ====// **Pressure from the classes** - (Middle class were discontent they had money and power but no vote, working class allianced with middle class, though they did not get the vote for themselves but for the middle class) //====
 * ====// **Radicals and Individuals** - (Putting pressure on government, individuals such as Hunt and Cobbett)  //====
 * ====// **The Political Unions** -(organized force of middle and working classes.)//====

//**When and the Consequences of the reform act ?**// //**1st** Reform Bill subjected **- March 1831 passed in house of commons but rejected by lords FAILED **// //**2nd** Reform Bill subjected**- July 1831**// //**passed in house of commons but rejected by lords**// //** FAILED **// //**3rd** Reform Bill subjected**- December 1831**// //**passed in house of commons and passed by lords**// //** PASSED **//

__ **Consequences Of Reform Act of 1832:** __

 * 1) ==**Redistributed __143__ seats to under represented areas,** //like new industrial town Manchester.//==
 * 2) ==**Remodeled the Franchise //(who votes, system, when ALL changed. Introduces a £10 householder franchise- you could vote if your home was worth over £10)//**==
 * 3) ==**Counties stayed as they were!**==
 * 4) **5 Seats were given to Wales**

__// Trade Unions //__

 * **The passing of the Combination of Acts made it illegal for workers to combine with others to improve working conditions or to press for higher wages or working hours.**
 * **Banned trade unions and strike actions**
 * **The Acts did not prevent from strikes from taking place, however, and they did not prevent unions from being set up.**
 * **After the Combination Acts were passed there was an upsurge in union activity, the Amending act was then passed. The Amending Act meant that trade unions could be formed but workers were not aloud to use any force. Eg workers were not aloud to go on strike but COULD try to fix wages and working hours.**