New Ways to Get Reform

Following the Peterloo Massacre, the working and middle classes sought new strategies to persuade the government to extend the franchise. This period saw the emergence of organized political unions and petitions as tools for reform.

Key developments included:

1. The creation of the Birmingham Political Union (BPU) in 1829
2. A petition with 8,000 signatures calling for parliamentary reform
3. Demands for shorter parliaments and voting rights for tax-paying men
4. The spread of political unions across the country
5. Threats of tax resistance to pressure the government

Example: The Birmingham Political Union, led by Thomas Attwood, organized a petition with 8,000 signatures calling for reform from parliament.

The BPU's approach of cooperating with the law while uniting lower and middle classes proved effective and was replicated nationwide. Their tactics, including the threat of tax resistance, began to worry both the king and the government.

Highlight: The cooperation between the lower and middle classes in these political unions was a crucial factor in their effectiveness.

The Great Reform Act

The culmination of these reform efforts was the passage of the Great Reform Act in 1832. The Impact of the Great Reform Act 1832 was significant, though not as comprehensive as some had hoped.

Main points of the Great Reform Act:

• 56 small locations lost their right to elect MPs
• 30 smaller towns lost one MP each
• London and other large towns and cities gained more MPs
• Voting rights extended to those earning over £150 per year
• The number of voters increased from 435,000 to 642,000

Definition: The Great Reform Act of 1832 was a significant piece of legislation that altered the electoral system in the United Kingdom, redistributing parliamentary seats and expanding the franchise.

How 'Great' was the Great Reform Act?

The impact of the Great Reform Act of 1832 varied significantly across different social groups. While it marked a step towards more representative government, its limitations left many unsatisfied.

Middle Class Perspective

The middle class generally benefited from the Reform Act:

• Merchants and industrialists gained more representation
• Their interests were now more likely to be considered in Parliament
• Rotten boroughs were removed, and new towns and cities like Birmingham received MPs

Highlight: The removal of rotten boroughs and the allocation of MPs to new industrial centers significantly improved representation for the middle class.

Working Class Perspective

The working class was largely disappointed with the Reform Act:

• Most working-class people couldn't meet the £150 per year income requirement to vote
• The lack of a secret ballot left voters vulnerable to bribery and corruption
• Workers who could vote often had to follow their employer's preferences
• Only one in seven men could vote, and women remained disenfranchised

Quote: "Only one in seven men could vote and no women, this wasn't 'great' representation."

Despite these limitations, the Act did have some positive impacts for the working class:

• It proved that political change was possible, inspiring further reform movements
• The power of the King and landowners was reduced by giving the middle class the vote

Causes of Chartism

The limitations of the Great Reform Act contributed to the rise of Chartism, a working-class movement for political reform.

Political causes:

• The Great Reform Act did not give the working class the vote
• There was still no secret ballot, leaving the system open to corruption

Social causes:

• Poor living conditions for workers in new towns and cities
• Bad harvests in the 1830s led to food shortages for many farm workers

The Chartists demanded:

• Votes for all men
• Equal-sized constituencies
• Secret ballots

Definition: Chartism was a working-class movement for political reform in Britain that existed from 1838 to 1857. It took its name from the People's Charter of 1838 and was a national protest movement.

Continuing Push for Reform

The Great Reform Act of 1832, while significant, did not satisfy the demands of many for a more representative political system. This led to continued efforts for further reform throughout the 19th century.

Key developments in the ongoing reform movement:

1. The rise of Chartism as a major working-class political movement
2. Continued pressure for universal male suffrage
3. Growing demands for secret ballots to prevent voter intimidation
4. Calls for more equitable distribution of parliamentary seats

Example: The Chartist movement, which emerged in the late 1830s, advocated for six main points of reform, including universal male suffrage and secret ballots.

Subsequent Reform Acts

The push for reform continued, leading to further legislation:

• The 1867 Reform Act: This act expanded the franchise in urban areas, nearly doubling the electorate.
• The 1884 Reform Act: This act extended voting rights to rural areas, further increasing the number of eligible voters.

Highlight: The 1867 Reform Act and the Reform Act of 1884 were crucial steps in expanding voting rights and moving towards a more democratic system.

Impact on British Politics

These reforms had a profound impact on British politics:

1. Gradual shift towards a more representative democracy
2. Increased political participation among the working class
3. Growth of organized labor and its influence on politics
4. Emergence of new political parties representing broader interests

Quote: "When did working class get the vote UK? The process was gradual, with significant expansions in 1867 and 1884, though universal male suffrage was not achieved until 1918."

The reform movement of the 19th century laid the groundwork for further democratic reforms in the 20th century, including women's suffrage and the eventual establishment of universal adult suffrage.

Chartist Leadership Approaches

The Chartist movement divided between moral and physical force approaches under different leaders.

Vocabulary: Moral Force Chartism advocated peaceful, legal methods of achieving reform

Example: William Lovett's approach included petitioning Parliament and promoting temperance

Highlight: Feargus O'Connor's Physical Force faction emerged after petition rejections, advocating more militant tactics

The movement demonstrated the growing political consciousness of the working class.

Electoral System in the Nineteenth Century

The early 19th century electoral system in Britain was characterized by significant inequalities and limitations. Who could vote in 19th century Britain was heavily restricted, with power concentrated in the hands of the king and major landowners.

Key features of the system included:

1. Lack of representation for workers in new towns and cities
2. Existence of "rotten boroughs" that sent MPs to parliament despite having no residents
3. "Pocket boroughs" controlled by wealthy individuals
4. Exclusion of women from voting
5. Absence of secret ballots, leading to voter intimidation and bribery
6. Inconsistent property qualifications for voting rights

Vocabulary: Rotten boroughs were constituencies with very few voters that still elected MPs to Parliament, while pocket boroughs were effectively controlled by wealthy patrons.

The Tory party, representing the landed class, resisted reform efforts. However, the election of the Whig party in 1830, led by Earl Grey, and the ascension of King William IV created an environment more conducive to change.

Highlight: The lack of representation led to the growth of the Chartist Movement among working men, pushing for political reform.

The Peterloo Massacre

A significant event in the push for reform was the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. What happened at the Peterloo Massacre was a tragic turning point:

• 60,000 workers gathered in Manchester to hear Henry Hunt speak about parliamentary reform
• Local magistrates, fearing the crowd, called in the militia
• Within minutes, over 600 people were injured and 15 killed
• Hunt was arrested and imprisoned

Quote: "After Peterloo, the Six Acts were introduced. They stated that any meeting of more than 50 people for radical reform was an act of treason."

The massacre did not bring immediate change but intensified the desire for reform among the working and middle classes.