Advantages and Disadvantages of the Great Reform Act - Advantages and disadvantages table in A Level and IB History

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Created by: maria
Created on: 20-05-14 11:49

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Great Reform Act

Advantages

Most rotten boroughs lost MPs.
There was some redistribution of MPs.
Approximately 200,000 are enfranchised through the Act.
The act opens the door of the House of Commons to middle class businessmen/ entrepreneurs.

Disadvantages

Landowners tsill had disproportionate influence on vote as there was no secret ballot.
There was still 3x as many MPs in the South than in the North - Larger cities were still underrepresented.
Total electorate (800,000) still only 4% of population.
Some people disenfranchised by reform - Property qualification rose.
Still majority aristocratic.

Evaluation

PRECENDENT - change to constitution possible. - successful work of extra-parliamentary pressure groups. REVOLUTION - revolution was averted. FUTURE - trigger/ cause for party modernisation (led to manifestoes and attracted new voters).

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