Great Reform Act, 1832 (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Great Reform Act, 1832
Background - why was reform needed?
During the 1820s, pressure was building for changes to Britain's electoral system. Many politicians, particularly the Whigs, started demanding electoral reform because they believed the current system was unfair and undemocratic. They were influenced by new ideas about representation and democracy, but there was also a practical concern - they worried that without reform, Britain might face a revolution similar to those happening elsewhere in Europe.
The fear of revolution was very real in the 1830s. Across Europe, countries were experiencing revolutionary upheavals, and British politicians were acutely aware that their own outdated electoral system could spark similar unrest at home.
The existing electoral system had serious problems. Many constituencies, known as "rotten boroughs," had very few voters but still sent Members of Parliament to the House of Commons. Meanwhile, growing industrial towns and cities had no representation at all.
What caused the reform to happen in 1832?
The key figure who made reform possible was Lord Grey, who became Prime Minister in 1830. As a Whig, Grey was committed to electoral reform and had the political will to push it through Parliament.
However, the path to reform was not smooth. The Whig-controlled House of Commons managed to pass two reform bills, but the Tory-dominated House of Lords refused to let them become law. This created a political crisis that led to serious unrest across the country.
The Bristol Riots and Political Crisis
Major riots broke out in several cities including London, Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Yeovil, Sherborne, Exeter and Bristol. The Bristol riots were particularly severe - they were among the worst England had seen in the 19th century. Public buildings and houses were set on fire, causing over £300,000 worth of damage, and 12 people died. The government became genuinely afraid that without reform, there might be a full-scale revolution.
Finally, in 1832, a third reform bill successfully passed through both the Commons and the Lords. The minister responsible for steering it through was Lord John Russell, who later earned the nickname "Finality Jack" because he declared that there would be no further electoral reform after this Act.
What did the Great Reform Act actually do?
The 1832 Act made several important changes to the electoral system:
Rotten boroughs abolished
Example: The Scale of Borough Reform
The Act systematically dismantled the old corrupt system:
- 56 rotten boroughs were completely disenfranchised (they lost their MPs entirely)
- Another 31 boroughs had their representation reduced from two MPs to just one
- This freed up parliamentary seats that could be redistributed to growing industrial areas
New constituencies created
- 67 new constituencies were established, mainly in towns and cities
- 42 towns and cities now had MPs for the first time, reflecting the growing importance of industrial areas
This redistribution was crucial because it meant that rapidly growing industrial centres like Manchester and Birmingham finally gained political representation, while tiny villages that had barely any inhabitants lost their disproportionate political influence.
Voting qualifications changed
The Act introduced different voting requirements for different areas:
In the counties: Small landowners, tenant farmers and shopkeepers gained the right to vote. This increased the total electorate to 650,000 people.
In the boroughs: All householders and anyone who paid £10 or more per year in rent could vote.
Continued exclusions
Despite these changes, the Act maintained significant restrictions:
Major Limitations of the Reform
- Women were explicitly barred from voting
- Some men who had been able to vote under the old system actually lost their voting rights
- The vote was still based entirely on property ownership
Impact and significance of the Great Reform Act
The Act had mixed results in terms of democratising Britain:
Positive changes
- The electorate increased dramatically by 78%
- Previously unrepresented industrial towns gained political voice
- It set a precedent that electoral reform was possible
Limitations remained
The reform's impact was more limited than many had hoped. Even after the increase, only one man in five could vote. The £10 property qualification (equivalent to about £1,500 today) was still too high for most working people. Skilled labourers, craftsmen, and other working-class people remained excluded, and all women continued to be denied political participation.
The £10 qualification might seem modest, but it represented a substantial sum for ordinary workers. This meant that the reform primarily benefited the middle classes rather than extending democracy to the working population.
Consequences for future reform
Rather than satisfying demands for change, the Great Reform Act actually increased pressure for further reform. Many people who had been excluded by the 1832 Act began campaigning for additional extensions of the franchise. This led to the rapid spread of movements like Chartism, which demanded more radical democratic reforms.
As one contemporary source put it: "You take our house when you do take the prop that dost sustain our house – you take our lives when you do take the means whereby we live." This quote from a political cartoon of 1831 shows how some people saw electoral reform as fundamental to their very survival and prosperity.
Timeline of key events
- 1820s - Whig politicians begin calling for electoral reform
- 1830 - Lord Grey becomes Prime Minister
- 1830-1831 - First two reform bills pass Commons but are rejected by House of Lords
- 1831 - Major riots occur in Bristol and other cities, causing deaths and extensive damage
- 1832 - Third reform bill successfully passes both Houses of Parliament
- Post-1832 - Chartist movement emerges demanding further electoral reform
Key Points to Remember:
- Lord Grey and the Whigs drove through the Great Reform Act in 1832 after two failed attempts and serious riots
- The Act abolished 56 rotten boroughs entirely and created 67 new constituencies, mainly in industrial areas
- Voting was extended to £10 householders in boroughs and small landowners in counties, increasing the electorate by 78%
- Despite this increase, only one man in five could vote - women and most working-class men remained excluded
- Rather than ending demands for reform, the Act actually encouraged further movements like Chartism that called for more democratic changes