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The Reform Act
The Reform Act was passed in 1832 and increased the amount of people who voted in the slowly industrializing England . It was the first time in scores of years that changes had been made to the structure of votes in the parliament. Many large areas had only 2 MPs, and since voting was not secretive, votes could easily be bought out. Due to this, the system attracted protests. Due to the Industrial Revolution, also, several areas, like Manchester and Liverpool , had urbanized. Earlier, however, they were not very large. Due to this, and the lack of change in representation, these areas brimming with activity and people (attracted to the opportunities and factories), were very inadequately represented.
In addition to changing districts that voted and how many votes these districts got, the Reform Act increased the number of people who could vote. Basically, it started giving more power to the middle classes, instead of the aristocracy. All male adults who paid an annual rent of ten pounds or more (two pounds in the rural counties) could vote. There were several other clauses, which although they did distinguish and chose depending on wealth, reduced the amount of wealth required by a male adult to vote.
Although the Reform Act did aid people – giving more of the middle classes representation, it did cause harm. After the Act was passed, there were terrible riots in Bristol – the worst in England in the 19 th century. Several buildings (houses and other such things) were set on fire during these riots. A few people were killed while several where sentenced to death. This riot also instilled a fear in the government of a possible revolution, especially since revolution was in the air.
The Act disenfranchised the ‘rotten boroughs', which basically meant these Boroughs lost all their independent votes and had to vote as part of their counties. These Boroughs were
- Aldborough, North Riding of Yorkshire
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
- Amersham, Buckinghamshire
- Appleby, Westmorland
- Bere Alston, Devon
- Bishops Castle , Shropshire
- Bletchingley, Surrey
- Boroughbridge, North Riding of Yorkshire
- Bossiney, Cornwall
- Brackley, Northamptonshire
- Bramber , Sussex
- Callington, Cornwall
- Camelford, Cornwall
- Castle Rising, Norfolk
- Corfe Castle , Dorset
- Downton, Wiltshire
- Dunwich, Suffolk
- East Grinstead , Sussex
- East Looe , Cornwall
- Fowey, Cornwall
- Gatton, Surrey
- Bedwin, Wiltshire
- Haslemere, Surrey
- Hedon, East Riding of Yorkshire
- Heytesbury, Wiltshire
- Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire
- Hindon, Wiltshire
- Illchester, Somerset
- Lostwithiel, Cornwall
- Ludgershall, Wiltshire
- Milborne Port , Somerset
- Minehead, Somerset
- New Romney , Kent
- Newport , Cornwall
- Newton , Lancashire
- Newtown , Isle of Wight
- Okehampton, Devon
- Old Sarum, Wiltshire
- Orford, Suffolk
- Plympton, Devon
- Queenborough , Kent
- Saltash, Cornwall
- Seaford , Sussex
- St Germain's, Cornwall
- St Mawe's, Cornwall
- St Michael;s, Cornwall
- Steyning , Sussex
- Stockbridge, Hampshire
- Tregony, Cornwall
- West Looe , Cornwall
- Wendover, Buckinghamshire
- Weobley, Herefordshire
- Whitchurch, Hampshire
- Winchelsea , Sussex
- Wooton Bassett, Wiltshire
- Yarmouth , Isle of Wight
Some Boroughs had reduced representation, instead of two members of Parliament, they had one. These were :
- Andover , Hampshire
- Ashburton, Devon
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
- Bridgwater, Somerset
- Christchurch , Dorset
- Dartmouth , Devon
- Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
- Grimsby , Lincolnshire
- Helston, Cornwall
- Honiton, Devon
- Hythe , Kent
- Lancaster , Lancashire
- Launceston, Cornwall
- Liskeard, Cornwall
- Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Midhurst, Sussex
- Monmouth, Monmouthshire
- Morpeth, Northumberland
- Northallerton, North Riding of Yorkshire
- Peterborough , Northamptonshire
- Rye , Sussex
- Shaftesbury, Dorset
- St Ives, Cornwall
- Thirsk, North Riding of Yorkshire
- Wallingford , Oxfordshire
- Wareham , Dorset
- Westbury, Wiltshire
- Wilton , Wilthshire
- Woodstock , Oxfordshire
- Weymouth , Dorset (reduced from 4 to 2 MPs)
- Melcombe Regis, Dorset (from 4 to 2 MPs)
Some regions were new enfranchisements. This meant that they did not have representation in the parliament, however, after the passing of this act, they did.
Boroughs given 1 MP
- Ashton-under-Lyne , Lancashire
- Birkenhead , Cheshire
- Bury, Lancashire
- Chatham , Kent
- Cheltenham , Gloucestershire
- Frome, Somerset
- Gateshead , County Durham
- Huddersfield , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Kendal, Westmorland
- Kidderminster , Worcestershire
- Rochdale , Lancashire
- South Shields , County Durham
- Salford , Lancashire
- Tynemouth , Northumberland
- Wakefield , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Walsall , Staffordshire
- Warrington , Lancashire
- Whitby , North Riding of Yorkshire
- Boroughs given 2 MPs
- Birmingham , Warwickshire
- Blackburn , Lancashire
- Bolton , Lancashire
- Bradford , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Devonport, Devon
- Greenwich , Kent
- Halifax , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Lambeth, Surrey
- Leeds , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Macclesfield, Cheshire
- Manchester , Lancashire
- Marylebone, Middlesex
- Retford, Nottinghamshire
- Sheffield , West Riding of Yorkshire
- Stoke, Staffordshire
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
- Sunderland , County Durham
- Tower Hamlets, Middlesex
- Wolverhampton , Staffordshire
Some counties were divided into two parts, each receiving 2 MPs. They were-
- Cornwall
- Cheshire
- Cumberland
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Durham
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Warwickshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
The Reform Act also added several other changes, such as –
-Giving the Isle of Wright one MP for the entire area since the three boroughs in the area were disenfranchised.
- Yorkshire , before the bill had passed had 4 MPs. However, after it was passed East, North, and West Riding each got 2 MPs
-The number of MPs increased from 3 to 2 for Berkshire , Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorset , Herefordshire, and Hertfordshire
Although the Reform Act was passed and was said to have given more power to the people, these very people seemed disappointed. In 1838, there was a petition called The People's Petition which consisted of six points (grievances and demands).
( http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1838chartism.html )
Unto the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the Petition of the undersigned, their suffering countrymen.
HUMBLY SHEWETH,
That we, your petitioners, dwell in a land whose merchants are noted for enterprise, whose manufacturers are very skilful, and whose workmen are proverbial for their industry.
The land itself is goodly, the soil rich, and the temperature wholesome; it is abundantly furnished with the materials of commerce and trade; it has numerous and convenient harbors; in facility of internal communication it exceeds all others…
…We are bowed down under a load of taxes; which, notwithstanding, fall greatly short of the wants of our rulers; our traders are trembling on the verge of bankruptcy; our workmen are starving; capital brings no profit, and labor no remuneration; the home of the artificer is desolate, and the warehouse of the pawnbroker is full; the workhouse is crowded, and the manufactory is deserted.
It was the fond expectation of the people that a remedy for the greater part, if not for the whole, of their grievances, would be found in the Reform Act of 1832.
They were taught to regard that Act as a wise means to a worthy end; as the machinery of an improved legislation, when the will of the masses would be at length potential.
They have been bitterly and basely deceived.
The fruit which looked so fair to the eye has turned to dust and ashes when gathered…
…The Reform Act has affected a transfer of power from one domineering faction to another, and left the people as helpless as before…
…We perform the duties of freemen; we must have the privileges of freemen.
WE DEMAND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
The suffrage to be exempt from the corruption of the wealthy, and the violence of the powerful, must be secret.
The assertion of our right necessarily involves the power of its uncontrolled exercise…
WE DEMAND ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS.
With power to choose, and freedom in choosing, the range of our choice must be unrestricted…
…We demand that in the future election of members of your Honorable House, the approbation of the constituency shall be the sole qualification; and that to every representative so chosen shall be assigned, out of the public taxes, a fair and adequate remuneration for the time which he is called upon to devote to the public service…
…The management of this mighty kingdom has hitherto been a subject for contending factions to try their selfish experiments upon…
…Universal suffrage will, and it alone can, bring true and lasting peace to the nation; we firmly believe that it will also bring prosperity.
May it therefore please your Honorable House to take this our petition into your most serious consideration; and to use your utmost endeavors, by all constitutional means, to have a law passed, granting to every male of lawful age, sane mind, and un convicted of crime, the right of voting for members of Parliament; and directing all future elections of members of Parliament to be in the way of secret ballot; and ordaining that the duration of Parliaments so chosen shall in no case exceed one year; and abolishing all property qualifications in the members; and providing for their due remuneration while in attendance on their Parliamentary duties.
From The Life and Struggles of William Lovett , (New York: Knopf, 1920), pp. 478482
Sources:
"Reform Act 1832." Information From Answers.com . 6 May 2006
<http://www.answers.com/topic/reform-act-1832>. Bloy, Marjie. "Terms of 1832 Reform Act." The Victorian Web . 6 May 2006
<http://www.victorianweb.org/history/reform2.html>. The National Archives Learning Curve . 6 May 2006
<http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/politics/g6/>.
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