Why did people want change?

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Rotten boroughs

 

There were areas which sent MP’s to parliament even though they had very few people living in them.For example, there was a mound of grass, called Old Sarum, where a village used to be which sent 2 MP’s to parliament to represent it.Birmingham, on the other hand, was one of the largest and fastest growing towns but had no MP’s to represent its people.

 

No secret ballot

 

When people went to vote, there was no secret ballot.This meant that people had to say in public who they were voting for.Therefore, they could be bribed, or in some cases even sacked if they did not vote for the ‘right’ candidate.As a result of this the same corrupt people continued to hold power.

 

Potwalloper boroughs

 

Some people were allowed to vote simply because they owned a fireplace and a locked door.They would prove their right to vote by rattling their keys in a cooking pot.No matter how much they owned, women were not allowed to vote.

 

Inspired by the French

 

Between 1788 and 1799 the French Revolution took place.This had inspired the ordinary people of France had rebelled violently against the ruling class.

It coincided with the end of the Battle of Waterloo, when many soldiers were returning home and needed work.The introduction of Corn Laws and a poor harvest also meant that people were starving at this time.

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What happened at Peterloo?

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• Gathering held in St Peter’s Field in Manchester of people who were demanding the vote.

• Peaceful protest of 60,000 protesters listened to speeches by radicals such as Henry Hunt.

• Hunt inspired the crowd as a confident speech which called for the reform of Parliament.

• The local magistrate panicked when he heard of the number of people gathered and called in the local militia.

• Within 10 minutes, 600 people had been wounded and 15 had been killed – included women and children.

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What were the consequences?
 

The Six Acts were introduced by the government.

• Any meeting of more than 50 people for radical reform was an act of treason.  Anyone now doing this was breaking the law.

• Local magistrates could search any property or person for weapons.

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Significance

 

Short term

• Men, women and children were killed.

• Tax on newspapers increased so that working-class people could not afford to read them and therefore would be less likely to publish negative things about the government.

 

Long term

Limited the ability of those wishing to campaign through the changes to the law.

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The Great Reform Act 1832

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Causes

 

1. Whig Party

 

In 1830 the Whig party, led by Earl Grey, was elected to government. This coincided with the death of King George III. He had been considered insane and had not been running the country well.George was replaced by King William IV who was more open to reform and improving society.

 

2. Birmingham Political Union (BPU)

 

Formed by Thomas Attwood in 1829.Attwood sent a petition to parliament with 8000 signatures to ask for reform.They wanted shortened parliaments, the end of property qualifications and a vote for all men who contributed to national or local taxes.The BPU vowed to cooperate with the law, and therefore avoid being banned, and agreed to unite middle and lower classes together.

The BPU model was copied across the country and when Attwood called for people not to pay their taxes, the king and government began to worry.

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Development 

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• Earl Grey’s Whig government tried to pass laws for a reform act – they tried 3 times!

• The problem was that the House of Lords did not want to pass an act that would give more power to ordinary people by having them represented in Parliament.

• On the third attempt to pass the law, Earl Grey went to King William IV and requested the Lords be appointed who were Whigs, or at least sympathetic to reform.

• The main decisions of the Act when it was passed were

• 56 very small locations lost the right to elect their own MPs.

• 30 other smaller towns lost 1 MP.

• London and other large towns and cities were given more MPs.

• People who earned £150 a year could vote.

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Significance

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Short term

• Merchants and industrialists gained more representation and were happier that their interests were being considered.

• Rotten boroughs were removed.

• Working classes not given the vote as most earned around £50 a year.

• No secret ballot was granted until 1872 – still had to vote for those in authority i.e. factory or land owner rather than their choice of candidate.

 

Long term

• Proved that change was possible, and the call for further reform continued.

• Reduced the power of the king and landowners by giving the middle class the vote which could lead to further change in the future.

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