‘The Conservative Party did more than the Liberal Party to advance the cause of parliamentary reform in the period 1851 to 1885.’

intro and context

• he period between 1851 and 1885 in Britain was marked by significant political and social change

• the first reform act in 1832:the m/c had arned the vote but women and workers still excluded

• rural areas overrepresented by MPs ehich benefited the tories (subject to pressure from landlords)

Conservative party’s role

• laid groundwork for reform

• the Reform Act of 1867:extended the vote to all male urban householders but not all workers, only partially removed overrepresentation

context of the 2nd reform act

• parliament had insucessflly tried to reform the system 4 times in 1850s, US civil war led to greater publlic interest in democracy

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