Impact of Reform 1780-1928

Reasons for declining power/influence of aristocracy and Crown (Reform Acts)

1832 Reform Act - some m-c were added to the franchise, meaning the u-c didn’t have complete power over votes anymore. Seats were taken from the u-c to give industrial towns more representation

1867 Reform Act - borough electorate now primarily w-c and the new electorate had to be given more education. The u-c had less influence as more people could act for themselves

1884 Franchise Act - landowners had less influence over a w-c majority, and the 1885 Redistribution of Seats Act meant the number of aristocrats in parliament fell, giving them less control

1911 Parliament Act - HoL can’t veto, and can only suspend for 2 years, taking away a lot of their power. Wages for MPs also makes it easier for poorer men to take government positions

1918 and 1928 Reform Acts - enfranchisement is based on age, not land or wealth

Reasons for declining power/influence of aristocracy/Crown (Burke)

1780 - Burke criticised the way the Crown chose roles that make people rich for doing very little, e.g. Groom of the Wardrobe. Abolishing these roles would save the government money and mean lower taxes. It would also prevent the need for more radical reform (reform to preserve.) There was increased Parliamentary debate on Crown patronage, but it amounted to little.

Tamworth Manifesto 1834

To appeal to the m-c electorate, Peel publishes the Tory beliefs and rebrands them as the Conservatives

Lichfield House Compact 1835

Ensures Whig power - between the Whig government, the Irish Repeal Party, and the Radicals. Allows for a further push for reforms in Ireland. Falls apart by 1841

Gladstonian Liberalism developed during Conservative dominance (1885-1906)

* Reform and improve national institutions
* Keep tax low, avoid expensive foreign laws
* Encourage people to help themselves and improve their own lives
* Irish issues - land ownership, religious tolerance, Irish Home Rule

Effects of WW1

Liberals could not maintain ideals of peace, reform and entrenchment. Labour surpasses the Liberals in 1923/4

Redistribution of Seats (Attempts by Pitt the Younger)

By 1780, distribution was outdated. Each county had 2 MPs, 33 English towns had a population of 10K+ but no MPs, including Manchester and Leeds

1782 - Pitt proposed a committee to address parliamentary problems, but is shot down

1783 - Pitt proposes to disenfranchise some corrupt boroughs and transfer seats to areas that needed them

1785 - Pitt proposed to abolish 36 corrupt boroughs and move the seats, giving financial compensation to the holders. Many were hostile to this measure, including George III

Redistribution of Seats (Reform Acts)

1832 Reform Act - 56 boroughs with a population below 2000 lost both seats. 30 boroughs of 2000-4000 people lost one MP. 44 new borough seats in industrial towns, the Midlands, and the North. 65 extra seats given to counties. These reforms reflected economic interests, not population size.

1867 Reform Act - the landed interest increased. Boroughs with a population below 10000 lost one or both MPs. Eleven new constituencies were made. Number of MPs for Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds increased from 2 to 3. English and Welsh counties were given 25 more MPs. Scotland was given 5 more seats and 3 more university seats were created.

1885 Redistribution of Seats Act - 28 boroughs with a population over 50000 remain 2 MP constituencies, but the rest become single MP. Number of seats for each large city reflected its size.

2 MPs to 3 MPs

Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds gained how many MPs under the 1867 Reform Act?

56

How many boroughs with a population below 2000 lost both seats under the 1832 Reform Act?

Changing composition of the Commons

1780 - parliament dominated by landed interest/aristocrats, did not change to fit the 1832 electorate. The MP qualifications were land that earned £600 p/a (counties) and £300 p/a (borough) but many bought them by fraudulent means. Chartists campaigned for this to be abolished and it became law in 1858

1874 - two miners that were supported by Liberals and Trade Unions were elected, but they were the exception

1911 - MPs get wages of £400 p/a, making it easier for poorer men to become MPs

1918 - 17/1623 candidates were women in the election. Only Countess Markievicz was successful, but didn’t take her seat

1919 - Viscountess Nancy Astor becomes the first woman in parliament

1874

Two miners become MPs with the support of the Liberals and trade unions