history year 8

• What was the Great Reform Act of 1832 aimed at addressing?

  It aimed to reform the undemocratic electoral system.
• What social conditions contributed to the pressure for the 1832 Reform Act?

  Social unrest and fear of revolution due to poverty and unemployment.
• What percentage of the population was allowed to vote before the 1832 Reform Act?

  About 2.7% of the population.
• What were some causes of social unrest in the 1830s?

  Enclosures, poor harvests, and high unemployment.
• What event in 1819 highlighted social unrest in Britain?

  The Peterloo Massacre.
• Who were the main supporters of the reform movement in the 1830s?

  Middle Class Industrialists and working people.
• What was the Birmingham Political Union?

  It was a major reform organization formed in 1829.
• Why were Middle Class Industrialists frustrated before the 1832 Reform Act?

  They had no representation in Parliament despite their wealth.
• How did the fear of revolution influence the push for reform?

  It motivated politicians to consider reforms to prevent unrest.
• What was the condition of the electoral system before the 1832 Reform Act?

  It included rotten boroughs and limited voting rights.
• What legal restrictions did Prime Minister Lord Liverpool introduce?

  The Six Acts of 1819.
• What were the main features of the pre-1832 electoral system?

  • Rotten boroughs with disproportionate representation
  • Only 2.7% of the population could vote
  • Local landowners had significant control
  • No secret ballot, leading to bribery and intimidation
• What major riots occurred in October 1831?

  Riots broke out in Bristol, Nottingham, and Leeds.
• What was the outcome of the House of Lords rejecting the Reform Bill in October 1831?

  It led to major demonstrations and riots.
• How did Earl Grey's actions in April 1831 influence the reform process?

  He dissolved Parliament to call a General Election, gaining reformer support.
• What happened in June 1832 regarding the Reform Bill?

  The Reform Bill was passed by both the Commons and Lords.
• What were the key changes brought by the Great Reform Act of 1832?

  • Abolished 56 rotten boroughs
  • Extended voting rights to men over 21 with property worth £10
  • Increased representation for industrial towns
  • Approximately 250,000 additional voters
• Why is the term "Great Reform Act" considered debatable?

  Because many working-class people remained disenfranchised.
• What was the impact of the 1832 Reform Act on the political landscape?

  It led to the development of the Liberal and Conservative parties.
• What were the demands of the Chartists in 1838?

  • Vote for every male over 21
  • Secret ballots
  • Annual parliaments
  • No property qualification for MPs
  • Payment of salaries to MPs
  • Equal-sized constituencies
• When was the secret ballot introduced in Britain?

  In 1872.
• What was the long-term impact of the 1832 Reform Act on social reforms?

  It led to more social reform acts like the Factory Acts.
• How did the 1832 Reform Act influence the working class's political engagement?

  It increased political protests and demands for further reforms.
• What were the key terms related to the political system discussed in the study material?

  • Electoral System: Process of voting MPs into power
  • Franchise: Right to vote in an election
  • Democracy: Fair system of government
  • Act of Parliament: A bill that becomes law
• Who were the Whigs and Tories in the context of the 1832 Reform Act?


  Whigs supported reform; Tories opposed it.
• What was the significance of the 1832 Reform Act in British history?


  It was the first effective political reform act in Britain.
• How did the 1832 Reform Act change the nature of political parties in Britain?


  It led to parties operating like modern political organizations.
• What was the population percentage that could vote after the 1832 Reform Act?


  About 4.4% of the population.
• What was the relationship between the 1832 Reform Act and future reforms?

  It opened the floodgates for further reform acts in subsequent years.
• How did the 1832 Reform Act affect the representation of industrial towns?

  It increased representation by abolishing rotten boroughs.
• What does the electoral system mean


  process of voting MPS into power
• what does the word franchise mean

  right to vote in an election
• what does democracy mean

  fair system of government
• act of parliament mean


  a bill that becomes a law