Representation and Democracy - key Acts

1832 Reform Act:

• aimed to achieve 2 things:
  - extend franchise so more men could vote
  - attempt to make the system fairer
• but only a small percentage could vote in elections
• more pressure for political change from the Chartist movement in 1830s-40s

1867 Parliamentary Reform Act:

• introduced by the Conservative party
• their leader thought if they gave a working man food, clothes and housing he would continue to vote for conservatives forever
• gave the most skilled working man the vote
• but middle classes and elite still dominated

1872 Ballot Act:

• attempted to deal with the problem of electoral malpractice by allowing secret ballots
• tried to stop bribery, corrupting and intimidation
• in areas with large amounts of voters, there was…