Topic 2 Revision sheet – Reform and reaction 1830-1841

After Catholic Emancipation Act 1829: Tory split into Ultras, Canningites and Wellington supporters

Background – King George died, poor harvests unemployment, rising prises and population

The want for reform! • Whigs were pushing for parliamentary reform and the Tory Cannigites supported the Whigs • Middle class wanted reform and representation • King William IV more open to reform than his predecessor

Whigs came to power in 1830 – a coalition of Whigs and Canningite Tories Who were they? . Prime minister = . Foreign Secretary = Viscount Palmerston . Lord Chancellor = Lord Brougham – a radical Whig keen on reform . Home Secretary = Lord Melbourne . Leader of house of commons/Paymaster of the forces = Lord John Russell.

Swing – 1830-1 (Got name from Captain Swing) Causes = poor harvests 1829 and 1830, rising prices and population and shortage of jobs - Riots erupted in rural areas of southern and eastern England - included agricultural labourers and craftsmen - Riots were not organised, but had common targets of new threshing machines/property of farmers - Riots not linked with demands in reform but caused political pressure

Increase in number of political unions (e.g. BPU) – increased pressure for reform

Problems with electoral system - Unequal constituencies - Open boroughs, pocket boroughs, rotten boroughs, pot wallopers - Elections only held if seat was to be contested - Men who owned land worth 40 shillings could only vote

The Great Reform Bill 1st Bill March 1831 = Bill defeated at committee stage – Grey resigns – Whigs return in next election 2nd Bill 1831 = passes all stages in commons but throw out the bill in October - Causes widespread demonstrations and riots (harsh government response) 3rd Bill December = passes all stages in commons and all stages in Lords, but Lords use delaying tactics --- Grey asks the king to create 50 new lords to push the bill through – he refuses Days of May - Whig government resign again - King asks wellington to form Tory government (causing mass agitation strikes etc) - Massive demonstrations of unions – threat of civil war/revolution Topic 2 Revision sheet – Reform and reaction 1830-1841

- Whigs return to government – King William created enough Lords and instructed others to comply ... GREAT REFORM ACT PASSED 1832 Reform Act made little effect – only around 250,000 more men got the vote.

1830s – Decade of Whig reform Pressure for reform came from ... Adam Smith ‘the wealth of nations’, Jeremy Bentham the theory of utilitarianism – the greatest happiness of the greatest number’, Humanitarianism and evangelical Christians.

Education 1833 – First government grant of £20,000 to two religious societies involved in schooling Factory Act 1833 – only effected children (act widely ignored – only 4 inspectors introduced) - Work by under 9 year olds made illegal - Children 9-12 to work a maximum of 8 hours and receive 2 hours of schooling a day - 13-18 year olds to work a maximum of 12 hours a day Abolition of Slave Trade 1833 Reform of the Church of Ireland passed 1833 to ... reduce number of bishops, abolish church rates and abolish churches with no Anglican churchgoers. Poor Law amendment Act 1834 (introduced to the north in 1837) Why? – Majority of population poor, ratepayers alarmed at cost of poor relief and the system New poor law based on principles of 1. The workhouse test 2. Less eligibility 3. Centralisation Results – Poor law costs reduced, harsh conditions in workhouses (Bastilles), Anti-Poor law movement in the north, Outdoor relief continued

Grey Resigns 1834 – Lord Melbourne takes over Lord John Russell suggests spending saved money from church reforms on schools in Ireland Whigs split because of above, Melbourne then resigns Tories and Peel form a government Peel releases his Tamworth Manifesto – redefines Tories to Conservatives Linfield House Compact – Whigs, radicals and Irish MPs form alliance to bring Whigs back to power 1835 Whigs back in office

Municipal corporations Act 1835 = Reform of the Local government Reform of the Church – included redistribution of church money Marriage Act 1836 – allowed Nonconformists and Catholics to marry Register of Birth Act 1836

Decline of the Whigs 1837 Queen Victoria – Whigs win election – bad harvests, unemployment, slump in trade, huge national deficit.

Lord Melbourne = least dynamic PM parliament has seen Lack of reforms made in the later 1830s Conservative propaganda! = used the Linfield House Compact and Lord Russell’s proposal to change Corn Laws – scared Farmers and landed aristocrats Conservatives win 1841 election