topic 9 - how successful were the reforms?

had anything like this happened before?

there had been some acts like the great reform act and peels factory act although neither achieved much

what act was undeniably progressive?

the government education grant

why was the education grant progressive?

it was the first of its kind and marked the government beginning to take responsibility for education

how progressive was althorps factory act?

it built off of peels work but still didn't create much change

what act was not at all progressive?

the poor law amendment act as it helped to hinder and oppress the working class

what was missing from the abolition of slavery?

slaves were still being smuggled - support for freed slaves was inadequate as they still faced discrimination

what was missing from althorps factory act?

limiting working hours for adults and creating better working conditions

what was missing from the education grant?

setting up state schools - better education for the poor - making education secular

what was missing from the poor law amendment act?

compassion for the poor - understanding of external factors which caused poverty - an adequate benefits system

what was missing from the municipal corporations act?

working class vote - making it compulsory

why did humanitarians/evangelicals push heavily for reform?

they believed it was their Christian duty to help the working class

what are examples of some prominent evangelicals?

William Wilberforce, Elizabeth Fry, Richard Oastle

why did benthamites push heavily for reform?

they believed society should strive for the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people

what re examples of some prominent benthamites?

Thomas Malthus, Edwin Chadwick

how would the upper class feel about the reforms?

generally unhappy as they may have lost money from slavery, paying higher taxes for education and influence in rotten boroughs - didn't have to pay as much money for poor relief

how would the middle class feel about the reforms?

very happy as arguably benefitted the most since the government was likely passing acts to try and appease them - they now had an active role to play in politics rather than just voting - didn't have to pay as much for poor relief

how would the working class feel about the reforms?

very unhappy - factory act meant they lost a stream of income from their children causing people to lie about their age - lost all government relief - working houses were horrible and an absolute last resort - still no vote