To what extent were the Whigs’ motives for reform essentially conservative and anti-democratic?

Introduction

• Conservative - Seeking to preserve the existing social and political order

• Anti-democratic - Deliberately restricting popular participation in politics

• Criteria - Assess Whig’s motives by distinguishing intention from result of reform

• More obviously anti-democratic in refusal of universal suffrage, but somewhat Conservative in change to conserve

Paragraph 1

• Motives were essentially conservative

• £10 annual rental qualification - sought to accommodate those who already have power

• 77 boroughs with fewer than 500 voters - willing to retain considerable inequalities to conserve

• £300,000 in damage during Bristol riots - any reforms made were for the sake of maintaining social order

Paragraph 2

• Whig reform not simply conservative

• 56 boroughs disenfranchised - directly challenged entrenched political system

• 67 new constituencies created - gave new and growing communities a parliamentary voice

• Electorate rose by over 200,000 - Whigs were willing to accept a transfer of political influence

Paragraph 3

• Whigs deliberately restricted political participation to men who met property qualifications

• Less than 8% of adults 21+ could vote - powerful evidence against democratic motives

• Over 50% population excluded - women could not vote

• Many poorer residents excluded

Paragraph 4

• Whig motives not wholly anti-democratic

• Increase of 42% in the electorate - More say in who represents us in Parliament

• English borough electorate increased by 61% - indicative of greater influence for urban areas

• County electorate increased by 29% - Now included smaller landowners and tenant farmers