preview

What Was The Significance Of The 1832 Reform Act

Decent Essays

The Passing of the 1832 Reform Act

During the early part of the 19th Century reform was placed low on the political agenda. This was perhaps due to the Napoleonic Wars with France which showed people the damaging effects war could have on the country. However, in 1819 the arguments concerning the reformation of parliament came back into the public's conscious. The growing role of the media acted as a new method of informing the public of their rights and the need for action. People were also being made aware through public meetings held by radical MP's that favoured reform. It is therefore not hard to see why in 1832 the Great Reform Act was passed.

'Old Corruption' was the name given to the …show more content…

Some had been prosperous medieval towns but were almost completely depopulated but despite this up to four MP's could be sent to Parliament from each area. These, as a result, became know as 'rotten boroughs' because they were giving a true representation of the people of England. It was the large, industrial towns that needed this number of MP's in parliament but these often went totally unrepresented.

In addition to this the actual elections were also false. Two thirds of elections were uncontested because people could not afford to stand against the successful candidate. The election process was not conducted on a single day but held over a number of weeks. The result might not be know for 2 months. There was no voting in secrecy. Voting took place on a platform amid an atmosphere of drunkenness and sometimes violent intimidation. Corruption was rife in terms of treating, cooping and the hiring of lambs. It is therefore reasonable that people called for reform in 1832.

The 1832 Reform Act was seen at the time to be a solution to an ongoing problem highlighted by popular unrest. It attempted to correct the failings of 'Old Corruption' whilst ensuring the elites in society retained their grip on power. The Act consisted of two essential elements, the redistribution of seats and the remodelling and systemising of the franchise. The Act released 143 seats that were

Get Access