Support for parliamentary reform 1780 - 1830

• What significant event was Britain involved in during the 1780s?

  The war of American independence
• What criticism did some MPs have regarding the government's conduct of the war?


  They criticized the government for raising higher taxes and increasing expenditure
• What did opponents claim about the king's influence on his ministries?


  They claimed the king was imposing policies and using patronage to achieve majority support
• What was one example of government corruption mentioned in the study material?


  The increasing number of contracts granted to MPs or their relatives
• What motion was debated and passed in the House of Commons in 1780?


  That the power of the crown has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished
• What was the outcome of the motion passed in 1780 regarding the crown's power?


  It led to a reduction in patronage
• What reform did William Pitt propose in 1785?


  • Disenfranchise 36 rotten boroughs
  • Redistribute their 72 seats to London and populous counties
• Why did Pitt's reform bill fail to secure majority support in parliament?


  Many MPs saw it as an attack on property rights
• What was the general public support for Pitt's reform bill?


  Support was patchy, with strong backing in London
• How did the end of the American War in 1783 affect the demand for parliamentary reform?


  The demand for parliamentary reform declined after the war ended
• What was the time period of the war against the French?


  1773-1815
• Why did calls for parliamentary reform quiet down during the war against the French?


  Due to government action to stifle demands and a patriotic sense of duty
• What happened to the reform agitation after the end of the war in 1815?


  It was reignited and attracted support, especially from the working classes
• What was the nature of the radical campaign that emerged after 1815?


  It called for complete manhood suffrage
• How did the property-owning middle classes view the radical campaign for reform?


  They opposed it, wanting the vote only for property owners
• What was a widespread belief among the upper and middle classes regarding voting rights?

  Only property owners had the right to vote
• Why did the middle classes favor some parliamentary reform?


  Britain was increasingly industrialized, and they wanted more political influence
• What was the representation issue in the House of Commons regarding industrial areas?


  Industrial areas were underrepresented compared to the rural south
• How many MPs did Lancashire have despite its large population?


  Only two MPs
• What was the population of Cornwall compared to its number of borough seats?


  Cornwall had a population of 192,000 but 21 borough seats
• Which cities had no seats of their own in parliament in 1831?


  Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds
• What happened to the demand for reform between 1820 and 1830?


  The demand for reform became quieter as the economy revived
• What did the Whig leader express about the likelihood of a reform act in 1820?


  He did not expect to see a reform act during his or his son-in-law's life
• What notable action did Parliament take in 1821 regarding a corrupt borough?


  Parliament agreed to disenfranchise the corrupt borough of Grampound
• What was the general sentiment towards parliamentary reform among the middle classes in the late 1820s?


  Parliamentary reform seemed a respectable and realistic goal
• What significant act was passed in Ireland in the late 1820s?

  The Act of Catholic Emancipation in 1829