Political Reform This is just a summary

Political Reform This is just a summary – you will need to revise and recap from your own notes and work booklet.

Why did there need to be reform • Scotland under represented with only 45 MPs (Wales had more than 600, even Cornwall had 44) – Many large areas had to share an MP, e. g. Glasgow had to share with Dumbarton, Renfrew and Rutherglen. = not solving problems associated with that city

Why did there need to be reform • Only 4000 could vote, out of a population of 2. 4 million – Political power was in the hands of one small group of people – It was this elite who would be pandered to and appeased

Why did there need to be reform • Blackmail and Bribery was easy – Pretend morgages – No secret ballot

Why did there need to be reform • Some areas of Scotland were misrepresented in line with wealth – Ayrshire had more than 200 voters – Caithness had less than 25

Why did there need to be reform • Rotten Boroughs – once thriving towns which are misrepresented – Eg Anstruther had its own MP but just a few hundred inhabitants • New big towns were misrepresented – Eg Edinburgh had just one MP and a population of 67’ 000 – Manchester

Radicals • Wanted change – Peaceful wing, eg demos, protests, etc – A violent wing who believed change could only come about through violence

Peterloo • Manchester • 80’ 000 turned up to hear speech for reform • Police presence • 11 died, 400 injured. Accounts vary over who is to blame • See http: //www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/PRp eterloo. htm for more detail

Bonnymuir • Think back… why are Scottish workers angry? – Agricultural Revolution made many unemployed, high food prices etc • 1820 during a General Strike in Glasgow, workers marched to Falkirk where they were met with govt troops – After skirmishes where some were killed, the ringleaders were executed, some deported • Consider the EFFECTS – would this help or hinder the cause? http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Bonnymuir

1832 Reform Act Why? - Effect of 1789 Fr Revolution - Thomas Muir - Whig Govt 1831 - Better conditions > less fear of rebellion

1832 Reform Act ü Towns – men who owned house/ shop valued at > £ 10 p/a ü Country – men who owned land valued at more than £ 10 p/a - men who rented land valued at more than £ 50 p/a

1832 Reform Act ü # voters increased from 4’ 000 to 65’ 000 ü 8 more MPs granted to industrial towns ü A step in the right direction

1832 Reform Act û Still 5/6 men could not vote û Voting was still open – no secret ballot û Only 8 more MPs go farto industrial Did it given enough? towns û Landowners still in control û MPs still not paid

Chartists What did they want? v All males over 21 to have vote v Secret ballot v No property qualifications for MPs v Payment of MPs v Equal Constituencies v Annual Parliaments

Chartists How? • Petitions (1’ 300’ 000 in 1839) • Demonstrations • Meetings • Set up schools, churches and shops which sold food at low prices

Chartists Demise of the Chartists • Threatened force • 1848 petition of more than 6’ 000 – half were false • Improving trade