P2P Chapter 4 Parliamentary reform and the Great Reform Act 1832

The Different groups of Radicals.

1. Highly educated moralists (Joseph Priestly, Richard Price) Wanted a more rational and uniform system of voting. 2. So called philosophical Radicals followed principles articulated by Jeremy Bentham and argued that the need for rational principles to be applied to all British institutions in order to obtain (the greatest happiness for the greatest number.) 3. The idea os of Major John Cartwright, that Anglo-Saxon England possessed a less corrupt and more balanced constitution. 4. Radicals who advocated universal male suffrage such as the orator Henry Hunt. 5. Political radicals with a more modest agenda. Some wished to restrict voting rights to property owners.

Who could vote before 1832?

1.In 27 places the corporation selected 2 MP's 2.In 29 places certain houses or plots of land carried the right to vote while others didn't by ancient custom. 3.In 37 places those who paid local taxes called 'scot and lot' were eligible to vote. 4.In some cases voting was restricted to Potwallopers. The male heads of a household which had a hearth. 5.In 92 boroughs the vote was open to the freemen of the borough and could result in a large electorate. 6.The widest right to vote existed in the six freeholder boroughs. Here the vote was given to anyone holding property. Roughly 200,000 men who could vote in the boroughs, 239000 men who could vote in the counties. 13% of total population.

What characterised early reform movement and why did they fail 1785-1830

lets find out.

Why Was their such a demand for reform of Parliament in 1828-30?

By 1830 Under-representation of the industrial cities and manufactoring interest which was becoming more and more part of the British economy, Government free trade policies in 1820 recognised the importance of high levels of employment, feelings of only a reformed parliament would be able to help a "new" Britain. 1.Growing awareness that the middle classes needed more extensive representation. 2.Support for the Birmingham Political Union confirmed both the growing demand for change and the considerable damage in ignoring it.

The Yorkshire association

Founding of the Yorkshire association, concerned about the standard of public life and specifically the immorality of pocket MP's or Patrons. The Yorkshire land owners called for annual general elections to curb bribery. Another 100 MP's from the counties to elect more independent MP's. Government had to take note as it was a unusual time for a reform movement to be so organised. Was the forerunner of other reform movements. Calls for Parliamentary reform from different individuals and groups (named radicals)

What were the Major Changes

More voting consistency however some lots their rights to vote such as potwallopers, the scot and lot payers, the free men and women.

The Political Unions.

Growth of the BPU and similar unions in cities meant that the pressure to pass a reform bill increased massively. From 5th November 1830- 4th March 1831 pro-reform petitions were sent to parliament by various middle class organisations. Previous radical groups had never achieved such organisation. Considerable support from press and from middle class leaders. Famous Meeting in Birmingham on 3rd October 1831 Attwood addressed a meeting of the BPU, attended by 15000 people. The Lords threw out the reform bill 8th October and a wave of protests followed. Political Unions were established around the country with the same aims as the BPU. Newspapers protested An attempt to set up a national Political Union. Meeting and large scale petitions continued. Newspapers proposed action and the classes working together. A real fear of uprising became aware.

What did the Reform act of 1832 change?

How Pocket and rotten boroughs were dealt with. Some disenfranchised, some lost the right to return 2 mps, 143 seats were redistributed. Which areas gained more MPs? The Counties gained 65 seats, 32 went to large towns,Scotland gained 8, Ireland gained 5. Who could now vote. Male householders could voe if they owned a house worth £10 a year or rented a house and paid £10 a year. Must be in the borough for at least a year. In the counties land worth £2 a year made you eligible to vote.

Influential ideas from overseas

Inspiration from France and the USA. If people had to pay taxes parliament made then they should be able to vote. Showed the weakness of British Parliament. Tom Paine proposed a model that all men should vote and a national convention should replace Parliament. French Revolution forced the monarchs to allow universal male suffrage. Theses changes influenced parliamentary reformers. Such as William Cobbett's Political register, and Edward Baines' Leeds Mercury. Birmingham political Union 1830 gained an unprecedented amount of support. Pitt himself introduced a parliamentary bill of reform in April 1785.

Why did calls for reform of parliament not succeed between 1780 and 1830?

Lack of success because; 1.The nature and aims of the people calling for change were varied and prevented any concerted or co-ordinated action. 2.Those who supported change were often seen as eccentrics or extremists. 3.The old system had so many vested interests in parliament that even Pitt could no persuade the Commons to vote for reform. 4.French revolution alarmed the government. and the propertied classes who were scared of change, Even moderate reform was rejected. 5.Ownerships of boroughs were seen as property and there was reluctance by MPs and government to interact with property ownership. The system was seen to be working. 1.A wide variety of interests were represented. 2.The system allowed reformers a voice even for those advocating Catholic emancipation. 3.Many saw it as right and proper that wealthy and important men should have influence over the return of MP's 4.Open Voting's put social pressure on people to do the best for their community. 5.Parliament was not the active law making institution that it is now.

How important was popular discontent in bringing about Parliamentary reform 1830-32?

Swing Riots Letters signed "Captain Swing" sent to magistrates, churchmen and wealthy land owners demanding wage rises, Abolition of Tithes. Alarmed the Landed classes as the lower classes seemed unified. Labourers reading political newspapers. Being influenced by Radical agitators and calling for Parliamentary reform. Some attacks caused by rural poverty and the loss of winter employment due to Threshing machines. Nearly 2000 people arrested and tried in 34 counties.

The Bristol Riots 29th October 1831

The Arrival of Sir Charles Wetherell, a judge to sit in local court in October 1831, Opponent of Reform. He was attacked by a crowd and threatened the protesters with force. 500-600 people then attacked Bristols Mansion house and its Gaol. The Bishops' Palace was burned down. The Troops didn't act because the commander didn't wanna kill anyone. He then ordered an attack with sabres and the crowds dispersed. Lasted 3 days and took place in bath, Coventry, Worcester, Warwick and Derby Nottingham was as bad as Bristol.

Did the act meet the aims of the Whigs?

The Whigs were still aristocratic, and the Tories less so. When the Act was passed it pleased the Tories as they were less aristocratic. Some buying and selling of seats continued,

Unrest in Nottingham City(whats going on)

The rejection of the reform bill triggered this. Attacks on municipal buildings, leading townsmen held a public meeting on 10th October but popular agitation disrupted it. Military dispersed the crowd but Colwick Hall, a local mansion owned by the anti reform Tory, The duke of Newcastle, was ransacked. The Castle was burned before the soldiers could do their jobs.

Why Did reformers want to reform parliament before 1832?

Though Britain was a parliamentary the powers of parliament were not defined. 2 parts of parliament, House of Commons, House of Lords, Both equally important. Parliament had control of taxation, and also voted funds to support official duties of the monarch. Parliament laid down the rules of succession and prevented any catholic coming to the Throne. However no change had been made to the nature of parliament, the system of boroughs and counties, the voting qualifications or the influence the great aristocrats and influential landowners over the return of MPs

The Tories and Parliamentary reform 1783-1830

Tories didn't want reform especially at the turbulent time of radicalism. However 1818 election in Grampound there had been blatant bribery in an election. 23 votes put on trial. Whig Lord John Russell wanted to stop Grampound however he didn't till 1826. The Whigs had been bing votes, the Tories complained however the Whigs wanted representation of the industrial towns and the Tories did not allow it. Tory leadership not prepared to redistribute seats to the new industrial areas. Peel and Canning who made changes to domestic and foreign policy would not touch Parliamentary reform. The Tories saw the positives of parliament. The Blurring of party lines between Whig and Tories became apparent in 1829. Many Tories didn't want to give in to Catholic Emancipation but Wellington and Peel did.

What did not Change

Voting was still conducted in public. Plural voting still was a thing, Still 7 years between channge in government and no paid MPs till 1901. House of lords maintained its power.

How Serious was the Violence??

Was Largely contained. 1.Large numbers were not normally involved and some of the crowds were not politically motivated. 2.Little linkage between Urban violence and middle class political organisation. 3.Had the commander ordered an attack sooner it would have been contained, he shot himself because of remorse. 4.Had little in common with the French Revolution 5.Few riots spread to adjacent areas. However. 1.Alarmed both the king and many leading land owners who saw similarities between this and the French Revolution. 2.Some of the notability build defenses around there homes. 3.the Countryside was also restless at this time. 4.Worries about middle and lower class protesters working together. 5.Showed the army could not be relied on for a quick attack. 6.Showed the political issue that could surmount from popular violence.

How Important was the Middle Class Protest

Was the most extensive since 783 Was organised and could threaten Britain's interests. Increased the danger of a link between popular and middle class protest Vigorous and committed leaders. Couldn't be met by repression However...... No clear argument existed, The proposal of an armed force was too radical Many saw the run on gold as injurious In Practice the link between middle class and working class protest were quite limited.

The Whigs and Parliamentary Reform 1783-1830

Whig group supported reform of parliament in the 1780's and their leader was the Earl of Rockingham. Fox advocated the removal of small pocket and rotten boroughs. Some more radical Whig politicians such as Lord Porchester, Lord Lauderdale, Lord Buchan and 28 other MPs formed the society of friends of the People in 1792. Aimed for a more equal representation of the people in Parliament, the society took up the idea of annual parliaments. Grey called for reform in April 1792 and a reform bill in 1793. Bill defeated 282-41 Whigs didn't like the bill because 1.Gaining support for it would alarm more MPs. 2.Was associated with the unpopular French Revolution. 3.Brought Whigs closer to splitting. 4.The Authorities were prepared to break up meetings. 5.The Society of Friends Disbanded. No one really pushed parliamentary reform Until Earl Grey in 1830 where he spoke making a public commitment to parliamentary reform.

Other Factors involved

Why instability was contained Wellington was not able to form a government in 1832 Adapted to circumstances and recognized the need for parliamentary reform. Though William IV disliked the bill he did not block it. Peel refused to join a Tory government as he didn't want to be accused of treachery again.