Great reform act

• How did the electorate rate increase by the 1820s

  - by 78%

  - still based on property ownership

  - only 1 in 5 men could vote
• How many times did earl greys Whig government try to pass the reform act

  3 times

  Had to pass through House of Lords who didn't want to give power to ordinary people

  Earl grey requested lords were whigs or at least sympathetic to the reform movement

  Lords were horrified but the great reform act was passed in 1832
• How was the great reform act successful

  - merchants and industrialist gained representation

  - rotten boroughs were removed

  - industrial towns like Birmingham could elect MPs

  - proved change was possible

  - reduced power of king and landowners
• Why were the working class not happy with the reform act

  They couldn't vote as they only earned £50 per year

  There was no secret ballot until 1872 so the few working class who had the vote were forced to vote for factory/land owners
• What does the imagery of this source show

  - workers on top of the hill labeled 'constitution' celebrating

  - workers and earl greys supported attempting to break down the rotten borough system and bring reform

  - wealthy land owners trying hard to hold up rotten borough system

  
• What does the provenance of this source show

  - it's an illustration which was becoming increasingly popular with the rise of newspapers and media aimed at the working class

  - written in 1831 before reform act was passed

  
• When did Earl Grey become Prime Minister?

  1830

  In the same year William VI came to thrown and he was open to reform
• Where did riots for reform break out in 1830/31

  Bristol

  Nottingham

  Derby
• Why did the great reform act have limited short term significance

  - expanded the right to vote to small landowners, shopkeepers and households who paid over £10 in yearly rent (£800 now)

  - abolished tiny electoral districts with few voters

  - allowed larger towns and cities to have MPs
• What movement followed the great reform act

  Chartist