Cards (27)

    • What was the economic situation in the 1830s that led to social distress?

      Several bad harvests resulted in high prices and a rise in unemployment
    • How did the economic distress in the 1830s affect the agricultural sector?

      It fell most heavily on the agricultural sector in the south and influenced the swing riots
    • What was the significance of the swing riots in 1830?

      They were a response to rural unrest and highlighted the need for reform
    • What actions were taken during the swing riots?

      Destruction of machinery and burning of corn occurred
    • What did some people begin to realize about the nation's distress?

      It demanded some form of reform to calm the people
    • What motivated people to protest during this period?
      Political slant to the largest economic complaints
    • What specific grievances did people express during the protests?
      Hatred of tithes and the administration of the poor law
    • Why were the swing riots particularly alarming to landowners?

      They were concentrated in the south east
    • How long did the swing riots last?

      Over a year
    • What potential threat did the alliance between the working and middle classes pose?

      It posed a further potential threat to the government
    • What was the main outcome of the pressure exerted by the people regarding the Great Reform Act of 1832?

      Parliament realized that delaying reform was not an option
    • What were the two important factors that helped the reform bill gain support?
      A split in the Tory party and the revival of the Whigs
    • How did the situation in France influence the reform movement in Britain?

      There was a fear that refusing popular demands could lead to revolution similar to that in France
    • What happened to the first reform bill proposed in 1832?

      It was defeated
    • What occurred with the second and third reform bills?

      Both were defeated in the lords and commons respectively
    • What was the consequence of Grey's resignation?

      It led to the reappointment of the Tory Wellington
    • What was the level of protest during this period?
      Protest reached almost revolutionary levels
    • What strategy did Grey use to ensure the reform bill was passed?

      He threatened the prospect of new peers
    • What did the Great Reform Act of 1832 achieve regarding rotten boroughs?

      It removed many of the rotten boroughs
    • How did the reform act change political representation for the middle classes?

      Wealthier middle classes were now included in the political process
    • What was the total number of seats in parliament after the reform act?

      658
    • How many boroughs with fewer than 2,000 voters were disenfranchised?

      56 boroughs
    • How many new constituencies were created by the reform act?
      22 new two-member constituencies and 20 new one-member constituencies
    • What was the increase in the number of representatives for counties after the reform act?
      Increased by 61 to 253
    • What property qualification was introduced for boroughs?
      Uniform property qualifications of £10
    • What was the total number of the new electorate after the reform act?
      813,000 of a total of 24 million
    • What does the reform act of 1832 signify in terms of political evolution?

      It showed what popular pressure could do and was the first assault on the status quo