An essay plan in response to the question 'How far do you agree that the passing of the 1832 Representation of the People Act was the key turning point in the development of parliamentary democracy in the years 1819–1928?'
How far do you agree that the passing of the 1832 Representation of the People Act was the key
turning point in the development of parliamentary democracy in the years 1819–1928?
1932 Representation of the People Act:
- Rotten boroughs disenfranchised allowing 143 seats to be distributed to bigger boroughs
and cities.
- Electorate increased from 14 to 20% of adult men.
- Door was opened to further reform, unintentionally from PM Earl Grey’s point of view.
HOWEVER
- Some men lost seats because of reduction of ‘scot and lot’ and ‘potwalloper’ franchises.
- Needed to be further redistribution of seats in 1867, 1885 and 1918 to properly reflect the
distribution of population and wealth in the country.
Ballot Act (1872) and Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act (1883):
- Made taking paper out of the ballot box or polling station without authority illegal.
- Crucial to implementing an incorrupt political system.
- Eliminated majority of bribery and intimidation of voters, but bribery still existed.
- Average election expenditure of candidates fell significantly.
1867 Reform Act and 1884 Representation of the People Act:
1867:
- In boroughs vote extended to all householders (both homeowners and tenants).
- Electorate nearly doubled due to increase in urban working-class voters.
- Seats were redistributed, some to boroughs like Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and
Birmingham.
1884:
- Agricultural workers in the counties now included in the franchise with the same property
requirements as in the boroughs.
- Electorate increased to 5,500,000 but 40% of adult men still not able to vote.
1918 Representation of the People Act:
- Universal suffrage to all men and women over 30 who met property qualifications.
- Women still not granted equal voting rights until 1928 (Representation of the People Act)
when universal suffrage was achieved.
- Some men still had more than one vote to themselves.
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