The great reform act - 1832

Disputes - radicals vs conservatives

- conservatives thought change would be catastrophic and they thought there was no need for it - radicals wanted change ( wanted equal suffrage) so made REFORM BILL in 1809 demanding a fairer voting system and equal suffrage - they kept passing it but it kept failing because of the house of lords - They wanted revenge for English revolution!!

What did the great reform act achieve

- created 67 new constituencies

Short term significance

- created 67 new constituencies but made ppl more angry as it didn't address their grievances

Causes

-The working class wanted the vote because working conditions were very bad - wanted revenge from English revolution -wanted equal suffrage - only ppl with land of their own could vote - most middle class and below couldnt

When

1832

What did parliament do

Decided they needed change and started passing reform bills in 1830 but they were always rejected by the House of Lords, so they started to PROTEST - king helped force it through in the end

Long term significance

Lead to great charter in 1838 which actually satisfied the people

How did ppl respond to the great reform act

Made people angry as nothing had been done to address their grievances - middle class still didnt have the vote and u still needed land to be able to vote

how did government try to prevent reform meetings?

peterloo massarcre - ppl read the riot act - 100,000 people were there- military were sent in to stop it - 10 were killed and 400 injured government passed 6 acts to say that meetings of more than 50 ppl were banned