Euro Reform Bill of 1832 Flashcards | Quizlet
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Euro Reform Bill of 1832

Terms in this set (13)

Early 19th Century
British Parliament was far from democratic and NOT representative of the population
House of Lords
-Hereditary nobility
-Peers (noblemen) created by the king
-Bishops of the Church of England
House of Commons
-Prosperous country gentlemen
-Wealthy business and professional men
-Members from "rotten boroughs" and "pocket boroughs"
Rotten boroughs
-Electoral districts with very small populations
-Voters were easily bribed or influenced
Pocket Boroughs
Electoral districts where representatives were "selected" by noble landowners
New industrial cities and reprentatives
New industrial cities had no representatives
-Constituency boundaries hadn't been changed since 1660
Whig ministry introduced...
In 1830 Whig ministry led by Earl Grey introduced "an act to amend the representation of the people of England and Wales"
Broad Goals
1. Abolish rotten boroughs
2. Increase number of voters in England and Wales by about 50%
Reform Bill process of getting passed
-Initally rejected by House of Commons
-New election held and bill passed in House of Commons, but rejected in House of Lords
-Riots broke out
-Passed in 1832 with help of King William IV
(He created enough new peers in House of Lords to assure passage of a 3rd reform bill)
Provisions
-Increased number of voters by about 50% (About 12% of men)
-Extended the right to vote to middle-class men and some substantial farmers (Property qualifications continued to bar many from voting,however)
-Deprived rotten and pocket boroughs of their seats in the House of Commons
-New industrial areas gained representation
Effects of Bills
-Made revolution in Gb unnecessary
-Provided for more diversity in representation
-Represented beginning of the shift in political power from the landed aristocracy to middle class
-Laid the groundwork for further reforms
Bill moved politics in what direction
My Notes
-Moved British politics in democratic direction and allowed the House of Commons to emerge as the all-important legislative body
Bill resulted in
My Notes
new industrial areas gaining representation in the Commons and many old "rotten boroughs" eliminated
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